David Croft suggests seismic F1 change as Ferrari berated by ex-chairman – F1 news round-up

Henry Valantine 16 Aug 2023 11:00 PM

Luca di Montezemolo, Mohammed ben Sulayem and Stefano Domenicali. F1 news. — A split image of former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo, FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.

Wednesday’s F1 news is a selection that involves several big opinions, including the direction the sport could take in the future.

There’s talk of driver moves, a car crash, Ferrari celebrating what to them historically is mediocrity – you can tell the summer break is upon us.

With that, let’s dive into today’s selection of F1 news.

Crofty calls for huge F1 governance change

When asked what he would change about Formula 1, Sky Sports commentator David Croft believes that the FIA should have less say over the rule-making in the sport.

With the way the governing body and F1 owners Liberty Media interact, he believes that should be more of a co-ordinated effort in future to help the product.

“First and foremost, I’d have to stop the FIA being the rule-makers,” hetold the Sky F1 podcast.

“That’s the trouble the commercial rights holder (Liberty Media) has, it’s that they don’t make the rules – they can have an influence because they have a standing on the F1 Commission, but they don’t make the rules… the FIA does.

“I think the time has come in F1 to actually bring the two parties a lot more closely aligned.”

Luca di Montezemolo fires warning shot at Ferrari

Former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo was not best pleased at seeing his former team celebrate scoring a podium at Spa last time out – purely because team founder Enzo Ferrari would not be spotted celebrating anything that is not a victory in a similar way.

Charles Leclerc took the team’s third podium of the season in the last race before Formula 1’s summer break, but the Scuderia – and the rest of the field – remain a long way behind Red Bull and Max Verstappen in particular.

“You know what I’m sorry about?” Di Montezemolo toldQuotidiano. “Celebrating a third place, like Spa.

“This is not like Ferrari and the old man would not have accepted it. Never.

“Ferrari taught me a lot. For example, never to be satisfied. After a win, he immediately thought about the next race.”

Helmut Marko hints at Daniel Ricciardo’s 2024 possibilities

While Daniel Ricciardo has made no secret of his desire to be a candidate for a seat alongside Max Verstappen in 2025, what happens next year is still something of a mystery.

He has only had two races behind the wheel of an AlphaTauri, but Red Bull motorsport advisor has backed up what Christian Horner recently said and hinted that a full year with the team’s junior squad may be on the cards for him as he looks to stake a claim.

“Of course, you have to know from Daniel Ricciardo what his… We know his goals, but how to achieve them, whether he is ready to do a full year at AlphaTauri next year with full commitment,” Marko toldMotorsport-Magazinin Germany.

Lewis Hamilton’s old car involved in accident

A custom Pagani Zonda 760 LH made specifically for Lewis Hamilton, which the seven-time World Champion has since sold, has suffered extensive damage in a crash in Wales this week.

Thankfully, nobody was injured in the shunt, but the car careered into a wall into a wall in the Penmaenbach Tunnel in Conwy after the driver lost control.

Fred Vasseur dubs Charles Leclerc ‘impulsive’

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur knows Charles Leclerc more than most, having worked with him at Sauber in his first season in Formula 1 and watched him throughout his career.

With that, the Ferrari boss believes his driver has been “impulsive” in his decision-making at times this season and that has led to some less than helpful results for him and the team.

“Charles didn’t expect a season like this and at the start he pushed more than he should, now he seems to have digested the situation better. Carlos is very consistent and for this reason he’s a good reference for us,” Vasseur told La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy.

“As a character Leclerc is impulsive, if something doesn’t go well he doesn’t hold back. However, for his own good and that of the team, sometimes it’s better to calm down before speaking. In the heat you don’t have all the information you need to form a definitive judgment and in front of an open microphone it’s better to take your time.

“He’s always very fast, but this year if you look at qualifying Carlos was more up to him than in the past.”