F1 | Fast Ferrari, but hasn't won for too long and races with only one driver

Luckily there is the back to back of Monte Carlo, so Ferrari will soon be able to stop licking the deep wound of Barcelona and seek immediate redemption.

Of course, this 2022 championship began under different auspices, with a one-two and with the Red team boasting a 46-point lead in the Drivers' standings and 49 in the Constructors' standings after the run in Melbourne. All too good to be true.

Three races were enough, including Montmelò with Leclerc's imprudent and unfortunate retirement, to lose the entire advantage. Now Verstappen (three victories in a row) travels at +6 on the Monegasque Ferrari driver and Red Bull has a 26 point advantage over the Red Bull.

Yet the faces of the men in red after the Spanish GP were certainly not desperate. Team principal Binotto preached calm and said he was satisfied with the performance of the F1-75 and the quality of the developments brought about. Leclerc was dominating a race that without the turbo problem he would have easily won. The objective is obviously to confirm these values ​​even on the circuits that are on paper more favorable to Red Bull, those with faster corners and more straights.

But a virtually winning performance cannot make a team that leaves Barcelona with few points and many problems smile.

Ferrari has not won since Australia, and must as soon as possible reverse this trend and interrupt the winning streak of its Dutch rival, otherwise it is useless to collate pole positions that look like unconverted penalty kicks. The positive note is having resolved the tire wear problem between Friday and Saturday, finding the right pace to once again dictate the pace of the group.

However, it should also be noted that the Red team actually races with only one driver, the phenomenal Charles, who is in a championship of his own compared to an unrecognizable and increasingly opaque Sainz. Leclerc and the F1-75 form a spectacular combination, while Sainz gets off to a bad start, spins and has no pace. A disaster!

A team that aspires to win the title needs two drivers. A slogan so dear to Binotto, who never missed an opportunity to praise Sainz, underlining how with the Spaniard "Ferrari finally races with two drivers". We remember him being much less tender towards Vettel, when the German complained of technical difficulties.

Today, however, we feel that it is Ferrari who must give a fast and less oversteering car to the Spaniard who is not comfortable with the F1-75

It should be understood how a driver can't feel at ease with such a competitive car, just as his team mate achieves pole. The rule would be that when the number 1 has problems the second driver uses the opportunity to help the team. So far Sainz's contribution to the cause has been very small. We need a turning point, because Verstappen and Perez don't wait, they fly and win. The Cavallino smiles for the speed, but cries for the points. Which are the ones that count.

Antonino Rendina

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