F1 News: Ex-Mercedes CEO Makes Bold Ferrari Prediction For 2024 Season
In a revealing interview with OLBG, ex-Mercedes CEO Nick Fry shared his expert insights on the upcoming 2024 Formula 1 season, focusing on McLaren's development, Mercedes' technical hurdles, and Ferrari's rising potential.
Key Takeaways:
- McLaren's Evolution: Fry believes McLaren is on the rise, but still has doubts about their capability to consistently surpass giants like Red Bull and Ferrari. He emphasises the importance of realistic goals and praises their technical director, Andreas Seidl, for his sensible leadership.
- Mercedes' Technical Route: Fry voices concerns over Mercedes' technical direction, particularly their deviation from successful strategies, and the challenge of catching up with Red Bull's Adrian Newey-led team. He remains unsure about Mercedes' ability to consistently outpace Red Bull.
- Ferrari's Promising Outlook: Fry sees Ferrari as a strong contender to challenge Red Bull, commending Fred Vasseur's experience and ability to manage media pressure. He humorously shares his daughter's preference for Ferrari and driver Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari Press Image
The 2024 Formula 1 season promises more competition, contrasting with Red Bull's near-total dominance in 2023, where they won all but one race. Nick Fry, former CEO of Mercedes, provided his detailed perspective on what to expect from key teams like McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari in his interview with OLBG.
Fry said:
"I believe that McLaren will continue to improve. I hope they're in a position to win races. I'm not sure if they're good enough to consistently beat Red Bull or Ferrari yet.. I think that's a stretch.
"McLaren have to be realistic about their evolution. They've got a very experienced technical director in Andreas Seidl who is calm, sensible and understands the step a team needs to go through to win."
He continued:
"Some of the investments made at Mercedes, like the world-class wind tunnel, were done in my day. The wind tunnel was built in around 2005 or 2006, so it has been contributing for a very long time. McLaren are starting to invest in some of those facilities, but it should have happened a long time ago.
"Instead of having Norman Foster design their building, they could have invested in better engineering equipment! That was the decision made a long time ago and fortunately the McLaren owners have understood and have invested in those things now. They will be a good investment for the future."
Mercedes Press Image
Fry also shared his thoughts on his former team, Mercedes:
"I'm sorry to say this, but I don't see the technical team as strong enough at my former team, Mercedes. Competing with Adrian Newey's team is a tall order. They're a great team of people, but they've fallen so far behind by taking a different technical route.
"The rate of improvement is significant year upon year, but spending a year or two with a different concept that doesn't work results in trouble."
Revealing that he believes Ferrari are the most likely to challenge Red Bull in 2024, Fry commented:
"I think Ferrari will continue to improve. Fred Vasseur is very experienced as a team leader, and I think he'll provide the air cover from the pressures of the Italian media.
"I think he'll do a good job with that and keep the team calm. You have to be fairly unemotional. Ferrari would be my favourites to push Red Bull.
"My eight-year-old daughter has a strong preference for Charles Leclerc, and she said I had to say Ferrari!"