Formula 1: Ferrari CEO’s attempted insult was an epic failure
By Asher Fair
Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri’s attempt to insult Red Bull Racing Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen was an epic failure and made no sense whatsoever.
Toward the end of the 2019 Formula 1 season, the FIA issued a series of technical directives about engine legality with numerous questions surrounding the legality of Ferrari’s engines.
Shortly thereafter, Ferrari’s pace suddenly dropped.
This led to cheating accusations against the team by Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen. Ferrari did not respond to Verstappen’s remarks at first, but now CEO Louis Camilleri has.
In doing so, Camilleri attempted to insult Verstappen by comparing him to companies that are quoted on the stock exchange and referencing the fact that he is only 22 years.
All things considered, this “insult” makes absolutely no sense on any level. Here is what Camilleri had to say, according to PlanetF1.
"“Silence in some situations is more powerful than words. We are Ferrari, we are a company quoted on the stock exchange, why give credibility to a 22-year-old kid? It was a way to put us under pressure.”"
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First of all, “Silence in some situations is more powerful than words.” Right, then why comment?
Secondly, “We are Ferrari, we are a company quoted on the stock exchange”.
Wow. Ferrari are one of “only” thousands upon thousands of companies that are quoted on the stock exchange! Who knew?
Next, Verstappen? Oh, he’s “just” one of 20 Formula 1 drivers — one of “just” three, I might add, who beat both of Camilleri’s drivers this past season.
Yeah….why should we give a Formula 1 driver any credibility when it comes to Formula 1 racing, especially when we could always just ask a CEO from some other random publicly traded company?
Let’s also not forget the fact that this “22-year-old kid” is also older than one of Camilleri’s two drivers — the better of the two drivers, no less.
Way to unknowingly insult your own team.
If this ridiculous attempt at an insult doesn’t set off the “OK Boomer” alarm in this day and age, especially in Verstappen’s mind, I don’t know what would.
Louis Camilleri is right; “Silence in some situations is more powerful than words.” He should heed his own advice and control what he can control about his Formula 1 team and not the words of some “22-year-old kid” who he supposedly doesn’t think is relevant.