Monaco: a missed opportunity for Ferrari?
Charles Leclerc's pole position ruined by his crash and Carlos Sainz's solid 2nd place in the race had something unreal about them. There was an obvious chance of victory in the streets of Monaco... but was it the only one of the season?
When looking back a year ago, we remember the pitiful 2020 campaign of the Scuderia Ferrari. The legendary Italian team miserably failed to secure the 6th place in the constructors’ championship, with Leclerc’s podiums in Austria and Great Britain, and Vettel’s in Turkey, almost seen as an achievement. A failed car with an exhausted engine is the cause.
In 2021, Ferrari seems to be coming back from the depths. After some promising initial races, how surprised were F1 fans to see both Ferraris competing for the top spot in Monaco! Who would have bet on a pole position for Charles Leclerc? Even more so with such ease – perhaps too much, to the point of hitting the wall and retiring before the race even started. Carlos Sainz, the only representative of the Prancing Horse, claimed a stunning second place. Who knows, if the Spaniard had done better in qualifying, victory was within reach… Was this the only opportunity for Ferrari to win this year?
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We will have to rely on slow circuits.
The Monaco leg revealed the strengths of the SF21: it is very agile, especially in slow corners. It was able to be, for a weekend, the best car on the grid, with aerodynamics much more successful than its predecessor. The engineers at Scuderia maximized aerodynamic downforce on the red (and green) car, for an effective result: right away, Sainz rose to 2nd in FP1, and Leclerc finished first ahead of Sainz in FP2!
Only black mark, the Ferrari hybrid V6 still lacks power compared to other engines. A deficit of 50 horsepower last year, reduced to just over twenty today. Thus, it is hard to see the Red team shine on fast tracks, among which Spa-Francorchamps or Monza… little chance of hearing the “Fratelli d’Italia”.
On the other hand, where Mattia Binotto’s team could do well is in Austria: on a short track (4.318 kilometers) with a lap completed in just over a minute. The record is held by Valtteri Bottas, in 1:02:939. Ferrari should benefit from short straight lines and many high-speed corners. Engine power is not the quality to prioritize there. We could expect to see Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz challenging at the front of the pack, or even better.
Other relatively slow tracks, such as Budapest, could suit the SF21 well. In short, the less top speed is needed, the more the Reds can show their teeth. But beware not to stumble!
A pair of drivers pulling upward.
A winning team generally remains a team that gets along. One can make a significant exception for McLaren during the Senna-Prost era, or for Mercedes with Hamilton and Rosberg.
Except that at Ferrari, the scene more often bordered on the dramatic than the epic…especially when the young wolf Leclerc allowed himself the luxury of outclassing the Alpha Vettel. The silly crash of Brazil 2019 or the leapfrog game at the Red Bull Ring last year are good examples.
Carlos Sainz has arrived in place of the four-time world champion. He brought a breath of fresh air to Maranello, due to his youth (26 years old) and his character: humility, focus, not to mention fantastic talent.
With Charles Leclerc, the relationship is very good, as evidenced by the tangible respect between the two men. Exit conflicts of interest, the two drivers aim for the same goal: to bring Ferrari back to the top. And for that, they will indeed have to stick together, even if Formula 1 often wants to make your teammate your main opponent.
Charles Leclerc, with his crash in Q3, may have deprived his Spanish garage neighbor of an equally deserved pole. Not a hint of insult, no verbal sparring or any subtly formulated accusation. Just personal frustration, which is easily understood.
Let’s not get too carried away anyway.
A three-way battle between constructors for the ultimate quest in Formula 1 is mouthwatering. But this year, not all hopes are allowed for the Scuderia.
David (Ferrari) faces the two Goliaths, Red Bull and Mercedes, so far the only two machines capable of winning the championship. Who knows, Monaco may be the sole exception of the year, and everything would return to normal in Azerbaijan on June 4th, 5th, and 6th.
Not to mention that Ferrari has already shifted a large part of its resources towards the technical revolution of 2022… like most teams on the grid!
