I hadn’t forgotten Byrne , but didn’t put him in because I thought that with the stability with Todt and Brawn provided , any top designer would have flourished . I didn’t realise / had forgotten that Todt brought Schumacher in , more respect to him .
It was only recently, I was reminded/became aware that Todt was at Ferrari since 1993, I’d also forgotten that Brawn and Byrne joined for 1997, so a year after Schumacher had moved. When we look back it seems like there was a master plan, but when you look in detail it was more a case that when Michael arrived he and realised more technical horsepower was also needed and so the recruitment spree continued (for example Byrne had retired, so was available much earlier). Similarly, whilst I think they’d have been successful on Michelin’s the Bridgestone relationship which was the final piece of making them dominant, seems to an opportunity they realised and persued in 1997, so it was very much a chain reaction where Ferrari got Todt, who got Schumacher, who pushed for Brawn and Byrne and it was Ross who identified the Bridgestone opportunity and pushed for that. Todt made it all happen/work, but I don’t think there’s any suggestion he had some grand strategy in mind at the beginning, it was more the case of making decisions that gave them opportunities and then ensuring they benefited from those.
The past is the past. Look at Mclaren, how they have won the last two team championships after years in the doldrums. Ferrari can come back but only if they are honest with themselves about what they have done wrong. That's the difficult bit. Remember both Vettels and Alonso's frustration at Ferrari. It absolutely has to be the team culture that is partly to blame. I would love to see a Ferrari red regularly on the podium, no matter who the driver is.
Maybe we’re saying the same thing differently. I’m not saying they can’t do it, I’m more saying it feels like they’re still heading in the wrong direction and missing opportunities. Stella the man credited with the culture and organisation at Woking left Ferrari several years back and took all that capability with him Will Courtney who’s led RedBull’s strategy for years has gone to McLaren, Ferrari are weak in this area Jonathan Wheatley who ran Trackside ops for RedBull for years has gone to Audi, whilst it’s not a disaster for them Ferrari have room to improve here. Enrico Cardile who led chassis at Ferrari for last year’s car is now at Aston, meanwhile Ferrari have ride height issues. Rob Marshall who’s realised much of the flexible aero tricks of the last 15 years joined McLaren just before their resurgence. Flexible aero has been another struggle for Ferrari in the last couple of years and the basis of much of McLaren’s success. Adrian Newey’s now at Aston, he’s the closest guarantee of success you can get in the last 35 years. They might turn up next year with a brilliant car and/or PU and Charles walks the championship, Max desperately wants to join for 2027 and they go on to dominate the next regulation era. If they do it will be very much against the odds though, or because of something none of us can see. I respect the history and tradition of Ferrari, but honestly outside of the Schumacher years they’ve been “close but no cigar” for much of my F1 following life - I’m therefore largely ambivalent to their current status (although I do feel somewhat sorry for Charles who I guess is simultaneously living a nightmare and a dream), but I get there are people who are emotionally invested in Ferrari succeeding. I grew up with McLaren and Williams dominating and I’m pleased to see McLaren back and hope for the same for Williams. Similarly in Williams case though, whilst I can see they are coming back, I don’t yet see what’s going to make the difference in jumping them out of the midfield and it’s Aston who have made all the moves that make me think they’re the most likely candidate to join the leading pack.
