Piero Ferrari Supports Marchionne's Overhaul at Maranello
Ferrari’s only surviving son, Piero Ferrari, has publicly backed Sergio Marchionne’s sweeping changes at Ferrari, including leadership shifts and a new driver line-up for the 2015 Formula One season.
Piero Ferrari has publicly endorsed the changes implemented by Sergio Marchionne at Ferrari, following a turbulent period for the team at the start of Formula One’s turbo V6 era. Marchionne, who took over as Ferrari president after Luca di Montezemolo’s departure, has led a near-complete overhaul of the team’s senior management and technical staff in Maranello.
Marchionne’s arrival has not been without controversy. His direct approach and swift decision-making have drawn comparisons with Enzo Ferrari’s own management style, particularly the decisive clear-out of senior personnel in 1961 that led to a new era for the Scuderia. Piero Ferrari, Enzo’s only surviving son and a vice-chairman of the company, has spoken positively about Marchionne’s leadership, describing him as honest and decisive, and expressing optimism about the generational shift underway at Maranello.
The management changes follow a disappointing start to the turbo hybrid era for Ferrari, which struggled to match rivals Mercedes and Red Bull under the new regulations. Marchionne’s shake-up has included the replacement of key figures across technical and operational departments, aiming to restore competitiveness to the team. The transition has also been marked by a public split with Montezemolo, who had led Ferrari since 1991.
New driver line-up for 2015
Alongside the leadership changes, Ferrari has brought in Sebastian Vettel to partner Kimi Räikkönen for the 2015 season. Vettel replaces Fernando Alonso, who left the team after five years. Piero Ferrari has welcomed Vettel’s arrival, citing his work ethic and his four world championships as evidence of his ability to lead Ferrari back to the front of the grid. He also expressed confidence that Räikkönen’s performance would improve with a more competitive car, after a difficult 2014 campaign.
The changes at Maranello are intended to break a cycle of underperformance and to position Ferrari as a contender for both drivers’ and constructors’ titles. While expectations for an immediate turnaround are tempered, the support from Piero Ferrari signals internal confidence as the team prepares for a new chapter in its Formula One history.
