Ferrari F1 leaders know this is a make-or-break year; if the team doesn’t deliver, there will likely be personnel changes.
Last week, Ferrari presented its F1-75 challenger for the 2022 season.
Today, Autoweek takes a look at the reasons for optimism, and pessimism, for fans of Formula 1’s oldest franchise going into the new season.
Reasons to Be Optimistic
Ferrari’s 2020 slump forced it to address underlying weaknesses. It was effectively given a free 12 months in which to make those changes after the rules reset was deferred from 2021 to 2022.
Ferrari restructured several divisions under team principal Mattia Binotto, with Laurent Mekies taking more track responsibility as racing director (allowing Binotto to be absent on occasion). Enrico Cardile and Enrico Gualtieri fronted the chassis and Power Unit departments. Cardile’s chassis department was organized into four sections in early 2021 to streamline processes and ensure tasks were clear, with a view to the 2022 project. There is a boldness and a confidence back at Ferrari.
Making up this season’s look 🥰
When F1-75 got its 2022 livery 🤩@ShellMotorsport @SantanderGP @VelasBlockchain @Qualcomm @ray_ban @awscloud @Richard_Mille @cevalogistics @EG00 @PalantirTech #OMRAutomotive#essereFerrari 🔴 pic.twitter.com/XAe29vwCZS— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 21, 2022
Operationally it has improved its efficiency, it has improved its pit stops, while crucial developments such as correlating its new simulator were signed off. It was quick to react to problems, such as tire woes at last year’s French GP, and it has been open-minded to learn after years of stagnation. Under Binotto Ferrari’s Formula 1 team has striven to be less risk-averse and discarded a blame culture that led to different factions covering their tracks.
Ferrari finished third in the F1 Constructors’ Championship last year, an improvement on 2020’s sixth, despite largely avoiding development on the chassis side of its 2021 cars. The update to its hybrid system yielded the anticipated dividends and put Ferrari on the right trajectory for its 2022-spec PU, given that it is an aspect that is carried over. The fact it was ready earlier than expected was also a boon as it allowed Ferrari to accrue priceless data.
Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc make a few fans’ day during a recent filming day.
Ferrari
In Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Ferrari has a promising lineup. Leclerc is among Formula 1’s fastest competitors and at times his qualifying speed has defied expectation. Noone can bend the laws of physics behind the wheel but Leclerc gives the impression of someone who could. Last year that was complemented by stronger race displays too, and fourth in the standings was likely without unfortunate retirements in Monaco and Hungary that cost him big points. He now has the nous and experience to kick on and emerge as a title contender if the machinery allows.
Sainz is more of a Sunday than Saturday man but is among the most cerebral drivers on the grid. He settled into Ferrari with aplomb, comfortably filling the large shoes of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, and quickly built a rapport with his engineers. His maiden win is surely not far away.
Reasons to Be Pessimistic
Ferrari is Formula 1’s most iconic and decorated team, but its pickings in recent years have been lean. It is without a world title since 2008 and is winless since 2019. In spite of its poles, and podiums, it still had a significant pace deficit at the majority of the Grands Prix to the front-runners. Compared to 2020, 2021 was good, simply because the bar had plunged so low. Compared to most years in Ferrari’s history, it was merely adequate at best, underwhelming at worst.
The current team has not yet fought for a championship and thus lacks experience in comparison to Mercedes and Red Bull Racing. You could draw comparisons to soccer titan Manchester United: a famous red team also competitive in the early 2000s, but struggling in the modern era against crisper opponents, and losing that luster. In both 2009 and 2014, when there were revised regulations, Ferrari was only fourth-best. Can Ferrari get right what it has previously got wrong? If it does, brilliant. And it really has no excuses. But if it gets it wrong, then Ferrari has history of politics overtaking the situation and looking for scapegoats. Ferrari has had several false dawns where optimism has been sunk.
Look for Ferrari to be back in the mix for some podiums and wins in 2022.
Ferrari
On the driver front, while an excellent lineup, there are a few doubts still. Neither Leclerc nor Sainz have the experience of a title battle, though that is not a criticism of their ability, more the circumstance in which they have so far raced. And, if Ferrari does emerge as a regular contender, there may be an uneasy call in the event that it has to put more of its efforts behind one of them. Sainz had a strong first year in red but was out-qualified 13-7 by his teammate and out-raced 14-6; that’s sometimes less influential in the midfield but if poles and victories are on a plate that divide will look more revealing, and could sway the momentum towards Leclerc.
What to Expect
Ferrari should be in the title mix this season. If not, there will be consequences. If that is the case, Leclerc and Sainz will form a potent partnership, one which Leclerc should front.
Keyword: Plenty of Reasons to Be Excited about Ferrari's F1 Chances in 2022