Villadelprat questions Ferrari’s Costa axe ‘panic’

Joan Villadelprat has questioned Ferrari’s decision to oust its technical director.

Villadelprat, a veteran engineer who in the 80s worked for the famous Maranello based team, had predicted the rolling of heads in the days before it was announced Aldo Costa had “relinquished” his top post.

“The pressure on Ferrari at the moment is brutal,” he wrote in his El Pais column on Monday, after both Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa were lapped in Barcelona.

“Things must change, that’s obvious.  But they must avoid at all costs the rolling of heads, a typical reaction at Ferrari when things are not going as planned.

“Rather, they need to consolidate the technical team and give them confidence to keep doing their job.  They are back moving in the right direction but they need more time,” insisted Villadelprat.

Two days later, the Spaniard told the sports daily AS that he does not think the departure of Costa is the right response.

“In a company like Ferrari you cannot succumb to panic.  After five races this was not the time to make big changes but the pressure was too great.

“Without doubt, going on now without Costa is a counterproductive measure because he is the same man who last year produced a fantastic car for Ferrari,” added Villadelprat.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Autosprint reported rumours that others at Ferrari – probably those closest to Costa – may also shortly lose their jobs.

Also noteworthy is that in Ferrari’s brief media statement on Tuesday about its “technical side”, chief designer Nikolas Tombazis was not even mentioned.

© RIF | GMM