Alesi: Vasseur can replicate Schumacher era of success at Ferrari

Ex-Ferrari driver Jean Alesi believes that Fred Vasseur's leadership at the Scuderia is a potential turning point for the Italian outfit, one that can revive the lustre from its Schumacher era.

The Tifosi - Ferrari's passionate fans - have endured a long wait for championship glory. Since Kimi Raikkonen's 2007 driver's title and the subsequent F1 Constructors' championship win in 2008, the Scuderia has struggled to recapture its dominance.

The Scuderia’s lasting title drought is a stark contrast to the golden era of the late 1990s and early 2000s, marked by the iconic partnership of Michael Schumacher and team principal Jean Todt.

However, Alesi sees a glimmer of hope for Ferrari’s championship ambitions under Vasseur’s guidance.

The Frenchman highlights his countryman’s Alesi highlights Vasseur's focus on building a strong and consistent team structure, echoing the strategy employed by Jean Todt during his tenure.

A well-oiled team machine is a crucial ingredient for sustained championship success, and Alesi suggests that Vasseur might be drawing inspiration from the Schumacher era and aiming to replicate the successful formula established by Todt, which involved not only a strong team but also a dominant driver.

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"Fred Vasseur is doing well to give Ferrari consistency," the 59-year-old former driver told Motorsport.com.

"I have the impression that he is repeating the extraordinary work that Jean Todt did when he arrived in Maranello, building a team that subsequently gave birth to the Schumacher era.

"I hope that the team's engine specialists can build a competitive power unit for the new regulations that will come into effect in 2026."

Monaco Grand Prix winner Charles Leclerc, who worked under Vasseur’s order at Sauber during his first year in F1, also believes that the 56-year-old is the right man to put Ferrari back at the top of the field.

“I have no doubts,” said the Monegasque. “I’ve thought since the first day he joined that he’s got everything to bring back the team to where it belongs and that means to a world championship.

“He’s got such a clear vision of what he wants to achieve and how to achieve it. He doesn’t lose time and that is definitely his strength and I think his vision is really good.

“We share it very often, on how he wants to achieve those targets. I’ve always been completely aligned with the way he wants to change things to get to where we want to get.

“I have no doubt that he’s the right person and that he’s helping the team to get there.”

While acknowledging Ferrari's current competitiveness, Alesi believes the team can push further this season and perhaps even surpass Red Bull with the help of its historically greatest rival in F1: McLaren.

"Not only that, but there are still sixteen grands prix on the calendar and Ferrari seems to me to be on the rise,” he said.

"And then there is also an important ally who can help beat Red Bull and I am talking about McLaren.

"Ferrari had already won in Melbourne with [Carlos] Sainz, and Charles [Leclerc] will now find that motivation to keep doing well," the one-time race winner added.

"My feeling is that Red Bull without Adrian Newey is a bit like the orchestra of La Scala without a conductor. There is no need to add anything to that..."

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