(Scuderia Ferrari SpA via Twitter)
The Ferrari Formula One team has stated that they are not in anyway concerned by the lack of Formula One experience within top level management at the Italian firm. In April this year, Marco Mattiacci took over from Stefano Domenicali as team boss at the Maranello outfit. The Italian took the top position having moved back to Italy from the USA where he held the position of CEO of Ferrari North America.
Since his arrival at the team, Mattiacci has observed the team and is now beginning the process of rebuilding the team following what has been an extremely tough season for the outfit which has seen them score just two podium finishes this season.
Mattiacci has also confirmed that the outfit will retain both Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen for next season while Kimi Raikkonen has not ruled out the possibility of extending his F1 stay beyond the end of next season when his contract expires. The Finn has stated that he will end his Formula One carer with the Italian team.
Questions have also been asked as to whether or not Sergio Marchionne, the chairman of Ferrari parent company FIAT is experienced enough to be the new chairman of Ferrari following the news earlier this week that after 23 years with the company current chairman Luca Di Montezemelo will step down next month.
Marchionne was appointed to the role of FIAT chairman in 2004. He will be assisted in his new role as Ferrari chairman by team boss Marco Mattiacci who is beginning to bare front as the team graduate improve their on track performances despite losing third place in the championship to the Williams Martini Racing Team last time out following an extremely disappointing home Grand Prix in Italy at the Monza circuit where Fernando Alonso suffered his first retirement as a Ferrari driver which is incredible when you consider he has been with the team since 2010.
Kimi Raikkonen finished the race in ninth place but is looking forward to next season and is hoping that the team will be able to challenge for the championship.
The fact that the team are retaining both drivers next season means that they have consistency which should give them plenty of momentum going into the 2015 season. Speaking to the Daily Mail newspaper in the UK a Ferrari spokesman commented:
'There are many experienced people at Ferrari, the people here are our strength'. He went on to say:
'Mr Marchionne's chairmanship has galvanized the clear, common objective to get back to the top'.
Ferrari's last Constructors championship win came in 2008 while Kimi Raikkonen was the team's last drivers championship when he won the title during his first season with the Italian team after joining them in 2007 from McLaren replacing Michael Schumacher.
It is understood that at board level, FIAT are growing increasingly impatient with the lack of progress within the team this season and that is why Sergio Marchionne was appointed as the new chairman of Ferrari.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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