Ferrari has gained from 2016 reorganization, says Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel believes that the reorganization undertaken by Scuderia Ferrari last year has paid dividends with the team’s improved form heading into the 2017 season.
The departure of former technical director James Allison in July was the most public manifestation of changes behind the scenes at the Maranello camp as the team endured its most disappointing season in years, failing to win a race.
Vettel believes that the changes contributed to the pace shown by the SF70H in testing.
“I think we are better prepared than last year, we did more laps,” he said in Barcelona. “I think overall the team is in a better shape. I think we learned a lot from last year, and I think last year was the most important year for us.
“Even if you look at the results you say it was not such a successful one, but I think what happened in the background was really, really important to make a step forward, and hopefully we’ve done that. But I don’t think we’ll get a proof or have a real idea until Melbourne or the first couple of races.”
Elaborating on what the team gained from 2016, he added: “I think last year we learned a lot of lessons, the whole organization, the whole team I think has grown. I think it was the most important year. Obviously ‘15 was a great year to start for myself, for the team to restart the mission to win. ‘16 was a step back in terms of results, but I think a massive step forward in terms of organization.
“I think it’s coming together and step-by-step we need to be patient, but when the team starts to work well one day we will see the results. How soon, I don’t know. But obviously it’s clear what we are here to achieve.”
