Mid-season Review: Ferrari, the Opportunity is Too Good

2nd in the Constructors’ Championship: 335 pts

Let’s say it. Unthinkable just two years ago, Scuderia Ferrari now has the fastest car on the grid, just ahead of Mercedes. Built on the excellent foundations of its predecessor, Maurizio Arrivabene’s team has made progress in all areas. Equipped with the most powerful engine on the grid, the SF71H excels in qualifying (two front rows in Bahrain and China, 5 pole positions in total), a territory previously reserved for Mercedes. And even though the rest of the field balks at the engine performance, to the point of requesting an investigation by the FIA, the Italian team continues to innovate. Another controversy is the mirrors mounted on the Halo, inspired by Ferrari in Spain, which have sparked a small revolution in current cars.

As much at the forefront in terms of aerodynamics, the Prancing Horse’s car adapts more easily to different tracks, performing well on winding circuits as well as on fast ones. A real major advantage for title contenders. And all this without much fanfare, under the leadership of Mattia Binotto. Only the arrival of Laurent Mekies by the end of the season makes a significant impression. Currently the safety director and deputy race director at the FIA, the Frenchman will join the technical development side of the team. A collaboration that inevitably causes some buzz…

The Pilots

Four-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel is in the running for the drivers’ title with Ferrari, as he was in 2017. This time, the outlook is brighter, given the qualities of his car. However, the German has brought home four victories, a situation identical to last season. He also has “only” 7 podiums, compared to 8 twelve months ago. The difference is easy to explain: three races will leave him with regrets. Fourth in Baku, his presumptuous overtaking on Bottas at the end of the race cost him the victory. Worse, his start at Paul Ricard, by hitting the Finn in the first corner. Starting third, he dropped to the back of the pack before climbing back to 5th place under the checkered flag. Surely, there was more to be done.

For Vettel, the most frustrating Grand Prix remains the one in Germany, in front of his home crowd. Leading from the start and heading towards victory, the driver with number 5 ended his race in the gravel trap, due to a track that became treacherous with the rain. The concerned party squandered 25 points: by looking at the overall standings, it’s easy to understand the importance of this simple loss, with 24 points separating him from Hamilton. Without this mistake, Vettel would be eight points ahead, with 214 points, compared to 206 for Hamilton, assuming the latter finished second in the race. The fight for the title doesn’t allow for this kind of approximation. A kind of déjà vu: in 2017, the ex-Red Bull driver was burdened by his collision with Räikkönen and Verstappen in Singapore. Utter heartbreak for Vettel at his home race #GermanGP 🇩🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/bTEgcUKoT7— Formula 1 (@F1) July 22

However, be careful! The spearhead of the team has showcased his class in other races. Untouchable [in Bahrain](…) or [in Canada](…), he also benefited from Hamilton’s retirement in Austria. And what an overtake on Bottas at Silverstone to take the lead!

BEST OVERTAKE OF /f1/actualite/22650-azerbaidjan-course-le-vent-tourne-pour-hamilton-.html: THE FINALISTS

Sebastian Vettel at Silverstone? 🇩🇪@danielricciardo in China? 🇨🇳

Your votes have carried them to the final 💫

Now pick your winner ⬇️#F1

— Formula 1 (@F1) 10 août /f1/actualite/22650-azerbaidjan-course-le-vent-tourne-pour-hamilton-.html

On the other side of the garage, Kimi Räikkönen is overshadowed, as he has been since his teammate’s arrival in 2015. Yet, the 2017 world champion is far from being ridiculed, showing impressive consistency in his results. “Iceman” has secured eight top 3 positions in qualifying, translating to as many podiums. Without his two retirements due to mechanical issues (wheel improperly attached in Sakhir, turbo failure in Barcelona), the former McLaren driver finished beyond the top three only twice, 4th in Monaco and 6th in Canada.

But the Finn only rarely has opportunities to go for a pole (too many small mistakes in his Q3 laps), and even more so a victory, which has eluded him since the 2013 Australian Grand Prix with Lotus. Ahead of Vettel in Austria (after his penalty received in qualifying), Räikkönen lacked the pace to chase down Verstappen at the end of the race. On the team side, the 38-year-old driver is in any case the ideal teammate for Vettel, who respects team orders without really opposing them, as demonstrated by the German Grand Prix.

The rest of the season

As close to the lead as they are, Scuderia Ferrari must seize the opportunity to claim at least one of the two crowns. Despite the errors mentioned above, Sebastian Vettel still has every chance to become Ferrari’s first world champion driver since a certain Kimi Räikkönen in 2007. The German driver’s attitude speaks volumes: the SF71H still has “a lot of potential to unlock.” In terms of development, the last engine upgrade of the season is scheduled for Spa or Monza.

To assist him in his task, Kimi Räikkönen will aim for more podiums to help Ferrari secure the Constructors’ title. Will he finally achieve his first victory since his return to the Reds? Under normal circumstances, it seems difficult. As a good setter and with unmatched experience on the grid, he is still set to continue until 2020 after being briefly threatened by Charles Leclerc.

This year seems to be the right one for the men from Maranello. It’s up to them to cement the trial. A title in one of the two championships would be the best tribute to Sergio Marchionne, the great boss of the parent company FIAT-Chrysler, who passed away on July 25. “We can make things happen in the second half of the season.” Vettel confident Ferrari can take the fight to Mercedes. — Formula 1 (@F1) August 13