Ferrari CEO sees difference from last year: "That's important for Ferrari"

Unlike in recent years, Ferrari has started the 2022 F1 season very well. The team leads in the constructors and Charles Leclerc is the leader in the drivers' standings. CEO John Elkann explains how the team could suddenly be competing for the titles again.

Change of culture

According to Elkann, Ferrari has changed a lot in recent years. The team had been pinning all its hopes on the rule changes implemented in 2022 for quite some time and says the culture within the team is different than before.

The focus in 2020 was already on Ferrari's current F1 car says Elkann in conversation with F1.com. "We trusted Mattia [Binotto] and the team despite all the pressure. We also changed our culture from one of guilt, to one of accountability and from one of individuals to one of team." In addition, Ferrari has become more collaborative as a team.

Leclerc and Sainz

With Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz, Ferrari has a very strong driver pair. And despite the fact that both are individually very good on the track, the most important thing, according to Elkann, is that they get along well as a team.

"We’ve two great drivers on their own merit. But more importantly, they’re a team. That’s what is important for Ferrari," says Elkann. According to the Italian-American CEO, Ferrari's teamwork is especially evident during its pit stops. These are a lot faster than they were in previous years.