May 11 (GMM) Former F1 driver Gabriele Tarquini has backed suggestions Ferrari might now be on the cusp of making some more high-profile personnel changes.
Italy’s Autosprint claims this week that, with Sergio Marchionne unhappy about the results so far in 2016, Briton James Allison might be in line to take over from Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene.
The rumour concludes that Aldo Costa, Mercedes’ engineering chief, might then return to Ferrari, but so far neither team has commented on the speculation.
But Italian Tarquini, a former F1 driver of the 80s and 90s who went on to become a highly successful touring car driver, thinks another shakeup might be just what the Maranello team needs.
“As an Italian, the current results of Ferrari make me sad of course,” the 54-year-old told Germany’s Auto Bild.
“Ferrari really has everything it needs to win. They have no inferior a budget than Mercedes and certainly no less experience.”
Asked what is wrong, then, Tarquini answered: “They probably just don’t have the right people.
“In recent years, they have made many profound changes to the management and the engineers, but the results have not improved. Maybe they should think again about changing a few people,” he added.