After the victory, Red Bull team owner Christan Horner commented, “Ferrari let us off the hook. Ferrari qualified first in Monaco but finished second, partly due to the team’s numerous gap errors and Leclerc’s hopes being ruined by an incorrect pit stop on dry tires.
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Ferrari believes there is no reason why it cannot take home the title this year if it wins the final 10 Formula 1 races.
Due to a recent confluence of engine issues, strategy mistakes, and driver errors, the Maranello team and its early title leader Charles Leclerc have found themselves severely behind.
Max Verstappen was able to win yet another race as a result of Leclerc’s most recent error, spinning out of the lead during the French Grand Prix.
Due to his victory, the Dutchman now leads the drivers’ standings by 63 points, and his Red Bull team leads the constructors’ standings by 82 points.
The distance may appear large, but it is not insurmountable. According to Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto, all that remains for his team to do is aim for victory in each of the remaining races.
Binotto pondered whether the Italian team’s title prospects now depended on Red Bull faltering “I have no idea since I don’t keep score. Before this race, if you had questioned me about the distance between Red Bull and Max, I couldn’t have responded since I wasn’t looking.
“We are aiming to attend every race and obtain the best results possible, so that is our main goal. Although it didn’t occur here at Paul Ricard, I believe our attention is already on Hungary and our upcoming trip there for a 1-2.
“Every race, in my opinion, counts equally with the others. We will calculate the results at the end of the campaign, so let’s see how we did.”
Leclerc appears to be on track to win in France, and Ferrari’s vehicle has shown to be incredibly quick, according to Binotto, giving the team the impression that they may put together an impressive run.
“I believe the good package is what’s more important to view,” he said. “From here until the conclusion, there is no reason why you shouldn’t win 10 races.
“I believe that a positive perspective is the best course of action, and I enjoy maintaining my optimism. Could Max and Red Bull experience some sort of calamity? They experienced the same thing as we did. Maybe that also occurs.
“However, I’m not relying on it. I believe that we should put ourselves first and work hard.”
While Binotto is convinced that the Monegasque’s pace is such that things might change very rapidly, Leclerc was left reckoning the cost for the error that cost him the French GP.
Charles has heard me say that although things are more challenging, they are still manageable. “And if we succeed in turning it into a victory in the end, we will simply enjoy it more.
“In every race, we need to maintain our concentration. We always had a lot of promise, if I go back on the most recent races. Although the results weren’t the best in terms of championship points, there is now no reason why it cannot happen in the next ten races.
Strategic Brain Teasers
In 2022, Ferrari has taken the lead eight times, but just four of those starts have resulted in victory. Only a small number of them races, like the Miami race, were decided by the Ferrari F1-performance 75’s vs the Red Bull RB18.
Leclerc’s chances of winning three races have been significantly reduced due to the incorrect approach.
- In Monaco, Leclerc took the lead in the wet conditions but was overtaken at the first stop, a service that Ferrari should not have provided because Leclerc wanted to keep running on wet tires, and at his second stop, he was mistakenly brought in on the same lap as teammate Carlos Sainz, which caused a delay. Fourth became first.
- Leclerc battled his way to the front of the race in Britain, but Ferrari held him out on worn Hard tires during a late Safety Car period as Sainz and the drivers directly behind him switched to new Soft tires. Despite his best efforts and defensive masterclass, Leclerc dropped to fourth because the newer, softer rubber was more faster. Sainz triumphed, but confused thinking cost Ferrari a 1-2 finish.
- Then there was Hungary. Ferrari put Leclerc, the leader, on the Hard tires for his third stint but grossly overestimated the difficulty of the compound due to the unusually cool weather. Even though they hadn’t used the tire during Friday practice and competitors had had a difficult time on it earlier in the race, they decided to go with the white-banded compound. Leclerc saw his issue right away and berated the tire’s performance as he lost the lead and enough time that Softs needed to make a third pit stop, dropping him to sixth. Leclerc was adamant that Ferrari had the speed to win after the race, while team manager Mattia Binotto expressed his opinion that a victory was not conceivable under any scenario. The reason Ferrari choose a tire that wasn’t working didn’t seem to be as important as why the car couldn’t make the tire work.
Leclerc had a potential 75 points over those three Grands Prix reduced to just 30. In reaction to criticism, Binotto has displayed composure, and he is right to refrain from criticizing the squad. Behind the scenes, it would be reckless to avoid having serious discussions about the team’s strategy and its important decisions made under duress.
Leclerc and Ferrari have received the necessary reset.
After Silverstone, Leclerc took a well-publicized sabbatical and traveled back to his home in Monaco to “disconnect,” while Ferrari seemed to have changed its weekend plan.
Ferrari made sure that straight-line speed and race performance were at the forefront of its set-up this weekend since it is obvious that it has realized it would not win this world championship even with the fastest one-lap pace.
Leclerc’s self-assurance following the sprint race was well-founded, and he undoubtedly understood that Ferrari could defeat Red Bull in the long run in a manner similar to how Red Bull has done so frequently in 2022, even when it didn’t start with the track position.
What did Ferrari reveal to the FIA?
Salo disclosed that the primary cause of the loss of power was due to the FIA punishing Ferrari and its client teams by requiring them to utilize less fuel.
- According to reports, as part of the punishment, Ferrari was required to use less fuel.
- Less gasoline meant that its 2020 engine performed worse.
- The same punishment was meted out to Ferrari customer teams as well.
Numerous whispers and rumors suggested that Ferrari had cheated with their 2019 engine. And while the team was unbeatable on power-hungry tracks in 2019, a sudden change in technical regulations brought on by an FIA inquiry produced a large loss in power, which is one of the key causes of Ferrari and its client teams’ extreme performance decline in 2020. Ferrari disclosed a covert arrangement with Formula 1 at the outset of the 2020 season, although the company wasn’t formally accused of wrongdoing. The renowned Italian team was subject to some penalties under the terms of the agreement with the authorities, according to former F1 driver and F1 Stewart Mika Salo, who was speaking to Finnish rally driver Kristian Sohlberg.
Salo disclosed that one of the primary causes of the lack of power was due to the FIA punishing Ferrari and its client teams by requiring them to utilize less fuel. Salo added of the Alfa Romeo team, which is employing a new Ferrari power unit, “They suffered from Ferrari’s cheat last year since they had Ferrari engines and were forced to use less fuel. So I think so Alfa Romeo may be in a strong position if they can perform at their best in the race this season.”
“They are permitted to run the engine at full capacity, albeit I’m not sure if it’s a new one. Due to Ferrari, they were not permitted the previous year “Salo elaborated.
Salo may be correct, but it is also true that Ferrari will introduce a brand-new powertrain in 2021 and may do the same in 2022. Both Mattia Binotto, the head of Ferrari, and Fred Vasseur, the head of Alfa Romeo, have previously declared that Ferrari will have a competitive power unit in 2021 that is not the worst on the grid.
Why does Lamborghini avoid the F1?
Although the Italian automaker has produced some of the most iconic automobiles in history, Lamborghini hasn’t been the dominant force in Formula 1. Even more people have discovered the sport thanks to Netflix’s Drive to Survive, but some auto fans have noted Lamborghini’s absence from the grid.
Despite not taking part in the event in 2021 or 2022, the Italian automaker has previous experience. According to F1 Technical, Lamborghini raced a vehicle dubbed the Lambo 291 in the 1990s. Despite possessing a strong V12 engine, its brief career didn’t turn out as expected.
There isn’t an official Formula One team for Lamborghini. However, the Italian automaker did make a foray into the sport in the early 1990s. This was the time the automaker ordered engineers Mario Tolentino and Mauro Forghieri to create a new vehicle based on the automaker’s L3512 naturally aspirated V12. Like all F1 vehicles at the time, the Lambo 291 had a carbon-fiber chassis. The automobile was about 1124 pounds in weight. The only transmission used to provide V12 power to the rear wheels was a six-speed manual.
It’s interesting to note that Lamborghini didn’t want its name on the squad since the company didn’t want to damage its reputation if the team failed. The team’s name is Modena because of this. However, Lamborghini decided to call its vehicle the Lambo 291.
Despite enormous expectations, the Lamborghini F1 car wasn’t a huge success. The 1991 Formula 1 season was the sole time the Lambo 291 was active. The pre-qualifying sessions served as its initial test. To even be eligible for one of the 16 races that year, the car had to perform well in these qualifying sessions.
Sadly, the automobile only competed in races six times. The Lambo 291 finished sixth at the U.S. Grand Prix on its best day. Lamborghini didn’t want to invest in a struggling squad, despite the fact that the company had one respectable finish at the beginning of the season. Despite having great hopes in 1992, Modena never returned to Formula 1.
Even if it happens, Lamborghini rejoining Formula One is doubtful. Just to enter costs $200 million. The current teams each receive an equal share of the money. Budgeting would also be required for the creation of a whole new vehicle and powertrain. Because Lamborghini lacks the same racing heritage as Ferrari, it would be prohibitively pricey.
Why tinker with success when Lamborghini’s Urus SUV is breaking sales records? If anything, Porsche or Audi have a stronger chance of entering Formula 1 because Lamborghini is controlled by the Volkswagen group.
If you enjoy reading about racing, come along with me to Italy for my Cradle of Supercars Travel Adventure Tour! Our tour includes driving a Ferrari or Lamborghini, touring historic towns, participating in Italian cooking classes, and visiting exotic factories and museums, including two Ferrari, two Lamborghini, Pagani, Ducati, and the Imola racetrack. All of this is seen through the eyes of fellow car enthusiasts. In case you need a break from all the speed, brake dust, and screeching tires, we also offer a day in Florence, Italy!
Yes, there are enough activities for the traveling companion who isn’t a car aficionado, making this the ideal gift for a birthday or a trip for couples, girls, or boys. From September 1–8, 2022, we’ll be on tour again! Just saying, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to take in the Italian F1 Grand Prix in Monza from September 9–11, 2022.
Why does Mercedes continue to triumph?
All records were broken, seven constructors crowns, and more than 100 triumphs. The v6 turbo-hybrid F1 formula has been completely dominated by Mercedes. You can tell because the German National Anthem is now played every time Mercedes wins a race, which has happened quite a bit. Therefore, it prompts a thought in every Formula One fan. The Mercedes F1 team is so successful, why?
With seven consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ championship victories, the Mercedes Concept One team proved that the new V6 turbo-hybrid engine formula worked. In addition to other things, they have the best driver, engine, aerodynamic package, technical team, and financial resources.
As the majority of you are aware, the squad suffered in its early years; their dominance didn’t begin until the 2014 season. They came in fourth place in the championship in each of their first three seasons (2010–2012). They came in second place behind Red Bull, the eventual champions, in 2013 compared to 2012. The so-called Mercedes era began with the 2014 season and is still going strong today.
Check out the great products from the official F1 store here if you’re looking for some F1 memorabilia.