Sebastian Vettel believes people wrongly assume Ferrari is stuck in the ways of the past.
Vettel has claimed 14 wins since joining the famous Italian team in 2015 but has failed to end its wait for a world championship. Ferrari has made a catalogue of strategic and operation blunders during his time with the team, prompting suggestions its culture is not in the right place to beat Mercedes across a whole season.
However, Vettel says preconceptions about Ferrari’s failure to modernise are wide of the mark.
“The strength of this team is the passion for Ferrari,” Vettel told Motorsport.com. “I think that’s what thrives people coming in and going out every day. I think it’s really the legend and the myth of this brand. And to become a part of that history.
“It’s very Italian inside, has very Italian rules and traditions, which is great, that they are kept. But equally it’s very modern.
“I think sometimes also this is misunderstood, because you look at Italy to say that they are very traditional with lots of things and ‘la mamma’ and all this, whatever.
“But people are still very, very forward thinking and I think we have a lot of young great talents in the team, great people with great ideas, creative ideas, and that’s why in a way it’s a shame that we haven’t, you know – in terms of results – haven’t had that breakthrough yet.
“That’s why also the focus is there to keep working, do our thing, because I believe that one day we’ll be there.”
The second year of Vettel’s partnership with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc was hotly anticipated ahead of the season following several major flashpoints between them in 2019. However, the season has been indefinitely delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The first race yet to be postponed or cancelled is the French Grand Prix of June 24, although it is looking unlikely that will take place as scheduled.