The only sure thing is that those words are at the same time slaps and caresses, they start from a hand that is iron and feather in a single instant, are syllables that run after each other animated by an act of love and a spontaneous rebellion. Those words are the tender embrace and also the energetic shake owed to a friend who seems resigned. Yes, around Ferrari (and, consequently, also around Juventus) perhaps a settling of accounts is also taking place in the family and certainly not in just any family, “the” family, the one that counts in both Houses: Elkann-Agnelli. The words are those of Sheet, the most talked about and the most frivolous scion of the dynasty but certainly considered the most creative even by his detractors. If Fiat has a line of extremely popular cars on the market, those with the “500” brand, it is due to his intuition of many years ago, when he gave birth – indeed little listened to at the beginning – the idea of replicating the most successful model of the last century with modern lines and technologies.
Lapo certainly isn’t the first time he hasn’t sent them word, and he certainly never does so within minutes of a crushing defeat. If you look carefully at the tweet that triggered the case, that of Saturday 15 April, it is certainly not improvised. There is a photo of him posing inside the remittance of Maranello with the Formula One single-seaters of the 2000s, those of the last titles. Lapo is wearing a red jacket and trousers, with the same nuance as the cars. And then there’s the original text, all caps included: “Ferrari (emoticon: racing car) Needs (emoticon: red heart) Seriousness and Winning Team in the Pits and Outside it’s time to wake us up enough with politics and games like this we WILL NEVER WIN”. Then five pairs of rigorously red exclamation points still drawn with emoticons. These are words that are not born from recent emotions, they rekindle spotlights that are all too dull, dormant, a tired and resigned narrative, even superficial and prone. The same one who singled out Mattia Binotto as the only poor devil to be sent back to hell and welcomed Frédéric Vasseur in adoration, the team principal who “almost” took over from Binotto. “Almost”, because some powers have remained with the CEO of the company, Benedict Vigna, President John Elkann’s confidantLapo’s brother.
Between November and February they were all there to praise Vasseur that until the day before no one had ever interviewed, no one had ever had the opportunity to sing his praises. Now they navigate between undeniable embarrassment and servile defense of the office. And it is no coincidence that they ignored or almost ignored that tweet. Until when can they do it?
SLAPS ON THE TRACK
The awakening with the descent on the circuits, already from the tests, was abrupt. The start of the season like a horror movie: zero podiums, zero pole position. For Carlos Sainz one sixth and two fourth places, one of which transformed into twelfth for an absurd penalty; for Charles Leclerc two retirements and a seventh place; for the team a terrifying fourth place among the Constructors, just 26 points with almost a hundred lengths of gap from Red Bull and twenty upcoming Grands Prix that could dig an abyss. So it went from “We need to understand” by Mattia Binotto of the disastrous 2020 season and also of 2021, al “We need to understand” from Vasseur.
Sheet he simply interpreted a common sentiment and expressed it, in a disruptive way, without running away after throwing the stone into the pond. A few minutes after that tweet gave birth to another that reinforces the concept: “Unity is STRENGTH but unfortunately some do not understand it”, and here follow seven pairs of red exclamation marks in the form of emoticons. Below the previous tweet, write concise and at the same time blunt answers to those who ask for a dialogue. To whom writes “Ah ok now that you’ve made this post there will be a turning point” answers “Unfortunately not, but things have to be said.” To whom points out that “The truth is that in the eyes of us fans, the presidency is ABSENT. I have never read a communiqué, a letter or anything from the president or other delegates. FERRARI needs people with passion like you and many other people like you»he replies with a devastating “I know unfortunately.”
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