According to Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna, the Italian F1 team is currently prioritizing the speed of its car over any alterations to its driver roster.
Despite Carlos Sainz expressing a willingness to discuss his future beyond his 2024 contract, team leader Frederic Vasseur clarified that discussions about the 2025 driver lineup will only take place after this season concludes.
These statements haven’t quelled a flurry of recent gossip suggesting a possible move for Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to Ferrari, potentially replacing an increasingly discontented Charles Leclerc.
When questioned about these speculations, Vigna told CNBC, “Right now we have Charles and Carlos and they are doing a fantastic job.
“They are friends but they are also in competition with each other. For us, the main priority is for the car to be more competitive.”
“Our car is the fastest we’ve had yet, but it’s not the fastest on the circuit. So we have to continue to improve,” he added.
Vigna’s comments came prior to Ferrari’s home race at Monza. Meanwhile, Sainz, in an interview with Sky Italia, was asked if the Ferrari drivers could pose a challenge to Max Verstappen.
“Everyone makes mistakes when you manage to put them under pressure,” Sainz mentioned.
“The issue is that he currently faces very little pressure. Even in situations where he could have slipped up, he and Red Bull executed flawlessly.”
Verstappen also spoke to the Italian broadcaster, responding to whether he’d mind if his winning streak were broken by a Ferrari at the Italian Grand Prix.
“No, we want to do a one-two,” he grinned. “It would be nice for a Ferrari to be third.”
The prevailing dominance of Verstappen has led some to call the sport dull.
“Is it ‘Formula Max’ now?” wondered F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
“My perspective is that if a driver is making history and becoming a legend, it only reinforces the uniqueness of our event and the spectacle.”
Gerhard Berger, a former Ferrari driver, remains optimistic about Ferrari’s chances at Monza this weekend.
“In a situation like this, they need to work and find good people,” Berger advised in an interview with Kronen Zeitung.
“One shouldn’t presume there’s no hope. Remember, Monza is a distinct track, featuring long straights and minimal aerodynamic downforce.”
