Leclerc has suffered from an unlucky season
Charles Leclerc's season was difficult, the Monegasque was outperformed by his teammate Carlos Sainz. A defeat that was determined by a narrow margin, according to Mattia Binotto, considering Leclerc's bad luck.
Ferrari had a good 2021 season, especially thanks to their driver duo Sainz-Leclerc. The two drivers formed a duo that showed remarkable consistency. But at the end of the season, one of the two inevitably takes the advantage over their teammate. And it is indeed Carlos Sainz who finishes ahead of Leclerc, a surprising result especially considering that the Spaniard was in his first season with Ferrari.
Sainz surpassed the Monégasque by 5.5 points, a margin that shows just how close the level between the two drivers is. But for Mattia Binotto, the director of the Ferrari team, the opposite result could have easily occurred. Indeed, Leclerc has experienced moments of misfortune several times this season, especially with his retirement even before the start of the Monaco Grand Prix, where he had secured pole position.
Without that, it is difficult to say where he would have ended up – but he is missing at least 40 points in his ranking, explains Mattia Binotto.
Ferrari therefore hopes that luck will be on their side in 2022. The team wants to return to its best level with the new regulations and fight for the title. According to Binotto, “the project is going as planned”. Ferrari plans to reveal its 2022 car in mid-February.
