Should something change at Ferrari? Maranello is speaking

Next year, yes”, said Vincenzo, a native of Maranello, to whom MD surprised while having coffee in the early morning in a downtown bar, next to the square where the Prancing Horse indicates to all visitors that they have arrived in the city of Ferrari. They prefer to call it “village”. “Here we all know each other,” he explained. It is no coincidence that of the four people at the table, one is an employee of the Ferrari factory, who prefers to listen to the opinion of his friends.

“80% of the people in Maranello work directly or indirectly for Ferrari.” It is therefore understandable that the philosophy with which this town accepts Ferrari’s difficult situation is one of optimism ahead of an Italian F1 GP that seems to be complicated by the superiority of Red Bull and Verstappen. No one else, Ferrari is their life and they don’t want to live in regret.

“We believe in the team because Ferrari is great,” said one of the friends. “It’s more of a passion factor, which makes you optimistic. Then, when you understand during the year that you’re not going to win that course, we always say: ‘Next year’. It has become a saying. But when you support a team you shouldn’t just do it when they win. And beyond the fact that we are all from Maranello here, the passion is felt”. That’s the mixture that perfectly explains the feeling of this population of over 17,000 inhabitants, the feeling they have as part of a family that everything will be alright again, and the shield that everyone carries in their soul .

The bar is located Only 50 meters from the legendary Ferrari factory. And next to it, the so-called Gestione Sportiva, the great home of the F1 team since then 2015a bunker that is impossible to access, where all the secrets of the red box are kept and where these days the team examines the reasons why Red Bull is so good in this final stage.

“People are not very happy because they realize that something went wrong with the development of the car,” said Giuseppe Chiaromonte, a young man from Maranello who, despite this criticism, was waiting at the front door of Manage Sports to see one of his idols come out. Why is he still there at the bottom of the canyon with his friends? His friend Matteo Poggioli responded: “Here Ferrari is almost everything. It runs in the blood of all the citizens of Maranello. Unfortunately, the end of the year was a bit disappointing. But we started very well and now we hope that next year we can do better. Faith does not stop despite not winning the drivers’ title since 2007, 15 years ago. They are not raising handkerchiefs asking someone to take responsibility. This hobby is different. He continues to support his group, that of all Italians.

“Because Ferrari is made up”

When asked about possible changes, they do not believe that firing the current Team Principal, Mattia Binotto, is a solution. “Changing bosses won’t give you a magic potion to win.” Instead, they expect an improvement in key aspects such as “wheel handling and strategy.”

“The drivers (Sainz and Leclerc) should not be changed because they are very good. I hope that there are changes at the level of strategies, of the people who should drive the team, because they have not been very good this year”, argues the most critical fan.

“We benefit from being close to the Ferrari factory, which brings tourists here. Every family in Maranello, more or less, has something connected to Ferrari.”highlights Luca Fornetti, owner of ‘Maranello Collection’, a store established in 1979 whose interior is like a Ferrari museum. “The impact of not winning is pretty noticeable,” he said of sales, but he’s not worried, because he believes “next year, or the year after,” they’ll be successful again. “We continue to have faith, because you can’t change teams like the wind. We belong to Ferrari and we will always be Ferrari fans”.

“Here the passion for Ferrari is felt from the youngest children, to the oldest grandfather. We believe in what Ferrari is doing. For us it is very important that it wins for our feelings and for the economy”, added Mara Caselli.

“Why believe? Because Ferrari is a myth, it is unique and it has to win yes or yes. In addition, we have two good drivers and next year the rules are maintained, which means that our base will be solid”, added Chiaromonte. Maranello is united, through thick and thin. Like in 1979 until 2000, the time that passed from Jody Scheckter’s title to the first of the 5 ferraristas he added Michael Schumacher. The town awaits the arrival of not only tourists with great hospitality. Also of success. “Next year…”