The gap between Mercedes and Ferrari for the 2nd place in the constructors’ championship is tighter than ever

Four points difference and only one race left to be raced. That’s the lead of the Mercedes AMG F1 Team, second in the constructor championship, over the Scuderia Ferrari in the standings. The German team has 392 points, 232 for Lewis Hamilton who also achieved seven podium finishes, and 160 for Russell who only managed a third place as his best result of the season, at the Spanish Grand Prix on June 4th.

On their side, the red team has 388 points, with 200 scored by Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver achieved three podium finishes, including his victory at the Singapore Grand Prix on September 17th. Charles Leclerc scored 188 points and secured five podium finishes this season.

Except in Qatar, since the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on September 3rd, Ferrari has scored more points in the main race than Mercedes. It is thanks to this better consistency that both of its teams are neck and neck before the final round of the season, this Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

Mercedes is looking gloomy at the end of the season

While George Russell had finished the 2022 season in fourth place in the driver’s championship with eight podiums and a victory in Brazil, he is only eighth in the standings this year. The 25-year-old Briton has had many races where he did not score any points. In Australia, on April 2nd, he had to retire due to an engine issue. In the Canadian Grand Prix on June 18th, Russell hit the wall on the 12th lap and later retired from the race. At Zandvoort on August 27th, a rain-induced spin caused him to finish in 17th place. In Singapore on September 17th, while running in third place, he crashed into the wall at the 14th turn on the last lap. And his most recent retirement was at the Brazilian Grand Prix, three weeks ago.

Lewis Hamilton has been much more consistent this season, but had to retire in the first corner during the Qatar Grand Prix, after a collision with his teammate, on October 8th. The seven-time world champion was also disqualified from the Austin Grand Prix, two weeks later, for ‘non-compliant ride height’.

Leclerc still as unlucky

Charles Leclerc finished the 2022 season with the honorary title of vice-world champion. But this year, the Monégasque driver has been unfortunate. From the first race of the season in Bahrain, Leclerc retired, betrayed by his engine. In Australia, on April 2nd, he didn’t even complete the first lap after a spin, leaving him stuck in the gravel trap. In Barcelona, the Monégasque driver finished 11th after being eliminated in Q1. In the Netherlands, he retired once again. In Austin, Leclerc was disqualified for the same reason as Hamilton. And in Brazil, he was forced to retire during the formation lap due to a mechanical issue.