Ferrari management is under scrutiny

After three races this season, Ferrari, along with Force India, is the only team yet to score a single point. Neither Felipe Massa nor Kimi Räikkönen has managed to break into the top 8 this year, marking Ferrari’s worst start to a season since 1981.

This vicious cycle is a hot topic in the paddock, with some pointing fingers at Ferrari’s recently 100% Italian management, particularly its manager, Stefano Domenicali.

According to David Coulthard: « Domenicali has a young approach and is a pleasant person. In the world of Formula 1, these ingredients don’t always work. »

Niki Lauda, former Ferrari driver and world champion, also gave his point of view on the issue by referring to the early 2000s, when Ferrari was outrageously dominant: « At that time, Ross [Brawn], with his English nationality, was the perfect bridge between the Italians, with their ‘spaghetti’ culture, and Schumacher, with his German efficiency. »

« Now, the Italians are in charge of everything. Does it work? It could be catastrophic, that’s the problem. » reports the British daily The Daily Mail.

Domenicali became the director of the Ferrari F1 team at the end of 2007, following the Frenchman Jean Todt, who had been at the helm of the Scuderia since 1993. Although Domenicali managed to win the constructors’ title in his first year as director (2008), much of the success was credited to Jean Todt because the 2008 car was more of a revised version of the F2007.

Stefano Domenicali, facing increasingly numerous criticisms, urges everyone to stay calm and focus on the F60 to make it a winning car. It also seems that Ferrari might consider abandoning the 2009 season if performance doesn’t improve quickly to concentrate all its attention on preparing for the 2010 season.