Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone hopes Ferrari ‘get their act together’ in 2017 but hints that being “run like an Italian team” has contributed to the Scuderia’s current poor run.
Ferrari last sealed the Drivers’ crown in 2007 with Kimi Raikkonen, while its most recent Constructors’ title came one year later.
After a promising campaign in 2015 and three wins for new recruit Sebastian Vettel, the Maranello-based outfit has failed to mount a genuine challenge to topple Mercedes, even slipping behind Red Bull in the pecking order.
“All I hope is that Ferrari get their act together and start winning races,” Ecclestone told the official F1 website.
“When I got Jean Todt to take his position and go to Maranello [at the end of 1993] - which was a bit of a risk for Jean to do - it was an all-Italian team and they were a bit concerned about taking a foreigner.
“But I told them: when you win the championship you sure will find ancestry in Jean’s family that comes from Sicily. (Laughs)”
Ferrari enjoyed tremendous success under the stewardship of Todt, claiming six Constructors’ titles and five Drivers’ crowns during the golden Michael Schumacher era in 1999-2004
Todt’s final years at the helm (2007-2008) actually coincided with Ferrari’s most recent championship victories.
“Now it has gone back to being a very Italian team again,” Ecclestone added. “And it is run like an Italian team. So I don’t envy [team principal] Maurizio [Arrivabene]’s job. I wouldn’t want to do it.”
“Probably what he desperately needs is a good back-up support like Mercedes have got, for example. If he had the support that Mercedes has, they would win races - for sure. I am also sure that you will see a different Ferrari next year.”
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