One-man shows are over, Ferrari must evolve - Domenicali

Jul.26 (GMM)  F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has cautioned Ferrari against making impulsive leadership changes, as speculation continues to swirl around team boss Frederic Vasseur’s future.

While rumours have hinted that Ferrari may part ways with Vasseur following another winless championship campaign, recent signs suggest he may stay—potentially within a revised leadership structure modeled after McLaren’s.

That structure, which has helped McLaren return to the front of the grid, features Andrea Stella as team principal working under CEO Zak Brown. It’s a dynamic F1 model that Domenicali, a former Ferrari team boss himself, praised during the Belgian Grand Prix.

“A great lesson,” Domenicali told Corriere della Sera. “Two years ago, McLaren was in the back row in Bahrain—the spending cap eliminated inequality. Making the right choices in building a talented group is what counts.

“The one-man show no longer exists,” he added. “McLaren has found in Andrea Stella—I’m happy and proud of him—and in Zak Brown, the leaders of a team that embodies the spirit of this F1: dynamic, youthful, and cheerful.”

Asked if Ferrari should give Vasseur more time, Domenicali avoided a direct endorsement but made clear that consistency is essential.

“With the right time and resources, results come,” he said. “There have been significant changes, and we need to let the wheels turn. Cutting down trees is easy, but if you need shade, you need to be careful.

“Ferrari’s top management certainly has the resources to make the right decisions, and they will certainly make them with a view to continuity and the need to have time to put the car they’re designing on the track.”

One major variable in Ferrari’s current dynamic is Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion has yet to consistently match teammate Charles Leclerc in 2025, raising questions about the team’s high-profile signing.

“A divine story for F1,” Domenicali said of Hamilton’s move. “From a sporting standpoint, Leclerc is always ahead of him, but Lewis has to adapt to the car. Money, titles, and stars aren’t enough. You have to fight every day.

“That’s the extraordinary spirit of F1.”

Despite now being 40, Domenicali believes Hamilton still has the motivation to reach his ultimate goal.

“He has a huge challenge for himself: to win his eighth world championship, and he’ll do everything he can to achieve it,” he said. “I don’t think he’ll try for any other team after Ferrari.”]]>