Having not produced a world champion since Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari have spent a majority of the last two decades behind a rival car. This rival has changed from season to season but as one of Formula One's greatest ever constructors, it seems completely irrational to see them anywhere else but atop of the podium. On the back of one of their worst seasons in 40 years, 2021 presents a major opportunity for the Italian giants to get back on top.
The heartbeat of any F1 car is its driver and Ferrari have procured a stellar line-up for the coming season. Future world champion Charles Leclerc and proven speedster Carlos Sainz Jr are one of the best pairings on the Formula One grid; all they need now is the right car.
Leclerc took over as the lead driver last year after contract complications ended sourly for team-mate Sebastian Vettel. Even with a struggling Ferrari, he still achieved 2 podiums and collected 98 points, finishing 8th in the drivers’ standings. A year prior he completed his first full season with Ferrari by finishing 4th in the championship, collecting 2 wins, 10 podiums, 7 pole positions and 264 points. It's in no doubt that Leclerc has certainly dubbed himself as a serious contender for future world titles. Ferrari share that belief and have given Leclerc £7.5 million a year until 2024 to prove it.
In contrast, the story of Carlos Sainz Jr is very different. Starting in 2015 with Toro Rosso, Sainz has competed a very long and hard road on his way to his Ferrari seat, but has proven himself, nonetheless. 2020 was his most successful season ever, accumulating 105 points and an agonising 2nd place podium in Monza at the wheel of an ever-improving McLaren. His move to Ferrari represents the pinnacle of his F1 career and his best, and maybe only, opportunity at a Formula One title.
The coming season also represents the first glimpses of fair play in Formula One in recent years. Big budgets have helped teams such as Mercedes and Red Bull push their cars to the absolute limit whilst others have been left parading around circuits trying to pick off the few last points available. However, after considerable negotiation, a budget of $147 million was agreed for every team, creating a more level playing field across the grid. Although Ferrari is amongst one of F1’s biggest spenders, this spending cap could effectively put them on par with Mercedes and slingshot them back to the top.
So, driver line-up? Check. Reduced team budget? Check. Major opportunity? Hell yes!
But what happens if it goes wrong? What happens if Ferrari have another nightmare season? Well, I think we could expect a changing of the guard, with the removal of Mattia Binotto as team principal, in an attempt to rejuvenate new life into F1’s most iconic team. In a mad turn of events, we may even see Ferrari drop further and further back, maybe even giving Williams some much needed competition.
Nevertheless, F1 deserves a great Ferrari, and their lack of success in 2020 was truly disappointing to all F1 fans. However, the combination of a great driver line-up and reduced budget may just produce a fairy-tale return season for Ferrari and with any luck, we might even see a blood-red overall on top of the world championship table.
A Ferrari success would give us supporters a big lift in what is a dying formula !?
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