Allison: Ferrari's prestige is its biggest burden

James Allison has fond memories of his two stints at Ferrari. The current technical captain of Mercedes defended the colors of Maranello between 2000 and 2004, a golden period when Michael Schumacher and the Prancing Horse completed 5 Drivers-Constructors doubles in the championship. 

He returned to the Italian fold in 2013, after having looked after the interests of Renault then Lotus to enstone, and remained there until 2016. Allison is therefore well placed to discuss the structural problems which seem to weaken this colossus with feet of clay that is Ferrari.

« Two very important chapters of my career were written with the Scuderia and I would not have returned if the experience was not pleasant, Brackley's brain commented. I have great affection for the brand and the people who embody it. I have a lot of friends in Maranello. Working for Ferrari is an immense happiness because the whole country is behind the team, the brand is extremely strong, its heritage, its history, and its prestige are so important that you have the feeling of belonging to something more big. 

This is both Ferrari's strength but also its greatest burden because it all comes with a lot of pressure and high expectations. When things go badly, the team finds itself in the spotlight and the press much more than the other teams.

Internally, people feel the duty to honor Ferrari's track record and the pressure is felt in the management style, which is much more vertical than elsewhere. This can tend to lead to short-term decision-making which can penalize the team where it would first be necessary to lay solid foundations on which to then build a building.

Ultimately, the experience is a mix of exhilarating highs and depressing lows. At the root of all this is the same desire, internally and externally, to see Ferrari compete at the top. ».

These words will undoubtedly bring some comfort to Mattia Binotto, currently under fire after a delicate start to the season at Ferrari. The fault lies with an aerodynamically unsuccessful SF1000 equipped with an engine that is behind the competition.