The Frenchman has admitted he’s ‘taking a lot of risks’ as he wrestles with a car lacking Red Bull’s paceWith the Formula One championship already beyond them, this is surely no time for a conservative approach from Ferrari. For the sake of the sport, the Scuderia, it must be hoped, will resist a tendency to stifle the instincts of artistry in the form of Charles Leclerc and his dance on a knife-edge with a recalcitrant car.The inclination at Maranello would probably be to have him play the percentages, to consolidate. Yet instead why not let him have full rein and indulge his aggressive determination such that we can at least enjoy a driver pushing to the very limit? Is it...
Dutchman overcame a slow start while Ferrari were stuck in reverse but Lewis Hamilton still showed he can raceAfter controversy over his first Formula One world championship in 2021, Max Verstappen left no question as to his deserved ascendancy this time. The Dutchman has been metronomic in his delivery, barely putting a foot wrong in claiming 15 wins from 22 races. Mechanical failures notwithstanding it could have been more. Moreover he did it with some panache. There were straightforward victories but also some supreme, authoritative demonstrations of man and machine in perfect harmony. Ferrari knew the game was up when Verstappen won three times from lowly grid slots, coming back from 10th in Hungary, 14th in Belgium and 7th in...
After years of struggle the Scuderia have their sights set firmly on both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships“Next year we will have fun, you will see,” Mattia Binotto told his driver Charles Leclerc over the radio as last season came to a close in Abu Dhabi. Ferrari’s team principal could not have known quite how prophetic his words were to prove but Leclerc’s beaming smile and the infectious joie de vivre he has demonstrated in his driving leaves no doubt as to just quite what a blast he is having. The team have delivered for Leclerc then but now face the altogether more serious business of turning fun into Formula One glory.Two years ago Ferrari endured a torrid season: their...
Charles Leclerc is gaining confidence with his superior car while Max Verstappen struggles with the balance of his at Red BullCharles Leclerc’s dominant win in Melbourne was a consummate display but his Ferrari was truly the class of the field. It is well balanced, versatile, quick through the corners, easy on the tyres and the engine is a powerful beast. Having written off last year and thrown everything into developing this season’s model there must be no little sense of satisfaction at Maranello. The task for Ferrari now is not to throw it away. The challenge for the engineers this season is going to be a fierce development war, as with the new regulations there will be gains to be...
Ferrari are fast, Mercedes have a mountain to climb and Red Bull are confident they can fix their fuel system problems Quietly confident in testing, Ferrari played down expectations before the season opener. After Bahrain though their form cannot be denied and on this performance they are title contenders. The car is fundamentally quick and is a well-balanced platform at which they can begin to throw upgrades as fast as Maranello can churn them out. Equally, in Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz they have a driver pairing more than capable of making a tilt at titles. Leclerc, especially in the manner of his victory, was superb. Calm, confident and driving with steely grit, he has made unforced errors in the...