Gerhard Berger questions Ferrari's handling of James Allion exit

Gerhard Berger has criticised the way Ferrari handled James Allison's departure from the team.

Just a week ago in Hungary team principal Maurizio Arrivabene angrily dismissed speculation that Allison was set to leave the team, only for Ferrari to confirm the Brit's departure days later. Now former Ferrari driver Berger has suggested the team may have even lied about the former Renault man's exit from the team.


"Ferrari behaved as though there were nothing in the rumours and three days later confirmed them," the Austrian told Germany's Auto Bild. "We can now consider what is worse: that they did not know about it, or that they lied."

Drivers quiet on Allison departure

Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen didn't comment much on the situation on Thursdaybut Raikkonen said he had "respect" for Allison.

Vettel, meanwhile, insisted: "Obviously there will be a difference but in the short term it doesn't change that much."

However, he played down the need for Ferrari to recruit more people from the outside, saying: "No, I think we have the right people on board," the German driver insisted at Hockenheim.

"Obviously it (Allison's departure) is a big change now, which doesn't impact on tomorrow's work but obviously for the future. No doubt about it, but I think things are heading in the right direction."

"In Maurizio's case as well, he's been in formula one and involved for a long time, so I think he knows the business very well and I think he's doing a very, very good job," said Vettel.

"That's how we all feel in the team. He's our leader, he's the team principal and we're happy he's with us."

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • Barret

    Posts: 1

    Ferrari don't seem to have a happy environment internally. There is far too much bickering that seems to be filtering through to the public. This season has had quite a few issues. I'd hate being a driver there, seeing management issues in the press so often!

    • + 0
    • Jul 29 2016 - 12:17
    • Indeed, it cannot possibly be good for the team spirit.

      • + 0
      • Jul 29 2016 - 17:21
  • Wow employer not willing to confirm that one of their employees is leaving until Ferrari were officially ready to do so is now a big handling problem? These buffoons have some ego issues, I mean just who dafaq is Gerhard Berger to Ferrari? No one, that's who

    "Oh please excuse us, we are terribly sorry that we didn't consult an outsider, totally unconnected to our team about one of our team members leaving for better pastures, How poor of us to not divulge all of our secrets and technologies while we were at it."

    Shocking! /s

    These jerks need to just STFU already, mind their own business.

    • + 0
    • Jul 29 2016 - 13:00

NL Dutch Grand Prix

Local time 

  • Friday weather-image

    Saturday weather-image

    Sunday weather-image

  • Sprint / Sprint startgrid

    12:00 - 13:00

    Race / Startgrid

    15:00 - 17:00

  • Sprint shootout

    16:30 - 17:14

    Qualifying

    16:00 - 17:00

    Fastest lap

    15:00 - 15:00

NLDutch Grand Prix

Local time 

  • Friday weather-image

  • Saturday weather-image

  • Sprint

    12:00 - 13:00

  • Sunday weather-image

  • Race

    15:00 - 17:00

  • Friday weather-image

  • Sprint shootout

    16:30 - 17:14

  • Saturday weather-image

  • Qualifying

    16:00 - 17:00

  • Sunday weather-image

  • Fastest lap

    15:00 - 15:00

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
26 - Jun 28
Austria
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
26 - Jun 28
Austria Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
24 - Jul 26
Hungary Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Germany
  • Date of b. Jul 3 1987 (39)
  • Place of b. Heppenheim, Germany
  • Weight 62 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar