Ferrari should resist Christian Horner and stick with Fred Vasseur because he wouldn't attract new talent to Maranello, his former colleague has claimed. Horner described the Ferrari hotseat as a “dream job” in an explosive interview last month, a year after his exit from Red Bull.
But Richard Hopkins, who was Head of Operations at Red Bull from 2013 to 2015 after five years as Operations Manager, said Horner wouldn't attract top people to Maranello.
Horner lacks Newey's magnetism, says Hopkins
Hopkins told Daily Star Sport via iPredicta: "I'm trying to be very neutral here, and I've got nothing against Christian. I'm just wondering if Christian came into the team, from a personnel point of view, who would be attracted to Ferrari because Christian's there?"
He added: "I left McLaren to go to Red Bull mainly because Adrian was there. Because I thought, 'God, if Adrian's at this team, things are going to happen'. Everybody wants to go and work for a team that Adrian Newey's at, leading the technical side. Engineers want to go and work for that team. I don't know if Christian has the same sort of draw, that same sort of magnetism. I don't think so."
He continued: "He's not going to bring Adrian Newey in, is he? So I don't know. If I was the board, I would stick with Fred. I think one thing that Ferrari have been guilty of, as much as the UK government is having too many leaders in too short a period of time, I think you've got to give somebody time."
Stability key for Ferrari success
Hopkins stressed the need for patience: "Regardless of how long he's been there, I think you need to give him a little bit longer. I think you'd have a conversation with Christian and say, 'flattered that you're interested in coming to Ferrari. Let's keep the conversation going. But for the moment, Fred has my vote of confidence'."
He highlighted the importance of harmony: "The drivers like him. If the team outside of the boardroom are supportive of Fred, that creates a bit of harmony within the team and stability within the team. To bring Christian in…Christian might be able to bring things to the team that Fred can't, but at the end of the day, for the moment, they've got some stability."
He referenced Ferrari's past success: "Ferrari haven't had that. They've had moments where things are constantly changing and moving. Back in the Schumacher days, the engineering team were amazing. Obviously Ross Brawn and that team were great, and there was stability, and that brought lots of success. So I think we've got to let Fred do what Fred does and see how that plays out. That's what I would do if I was in the boardroom. I would certainly keep Fred, I think."
Culture shift needed despite Vasseur support
But Hopkins, who worked at McLaren as a mechanic for 15 years before Red Bull, still believes Ferrari are in big need of a shake-up. The Italians have been plagued by a number of errors this season that showed again at the Singapore GP, with Vasseur claiming Hamilton had gone against orders. Hopkins believes there needs to be a key culture shift.
He said: "The buck stops with the team principal at the end of the day. Fred is a very successful motorsport person. He's had a lot of success in lots of things he's done in motorsport. Why shouldn't that translate into Ferrari and winning? He's got two great drivers. I think they've got some good personnel there. Have they got the best personnel at Ferrari? That's debatable."
He questioned whether Horner would change that: "Would bringing Christian in change that? Ultimately, could they do better than Lewis and Charles? Maybe. But I think that's a pretty good team. I think that's a pretty good driver line-up. You could throw one out, but then you're into a bit of jeopardy over who you're putting back in the seat."
He continued: "I think that, if I went into Ferrari, I don't think I'd be looking at changing the drivers for the moment. Lewis has still obviously got speed about him. He might have lost a bit, but he's still well up there. Maybe he had a bit to lose. And Charles has had a bit of an iffy season, but ultimately, he's a bloody good, quick driver. Personnel-wise within the team, yeah, they might be bringing some people in."
He added: "It might be a bit of a conundrum that might be going on in the Ferrari boardroom: if they're more likely to win with Horner than Vasseur. You're better with the devil you know. I don't think Fred's doing a bad job and it's very difficult to win every Grand Prix."
He concluded: "Famously, one team principal said, 'look, I don't design the car. I don't fit the tyres, I don't drive the car, I'm not a race engineer', but the team principal is responsible for all those functions and the driver and everything else."
