With just two races to go until the end of the 2022 Formula 1 championship, Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz has strongly denied that he would prefer a lower Constructors’ Championship finish for the Maranello team with the goal of having more wind tunnel time to be able to better prepare for the 2023 F1 campaign.
Scuderia Ferrari looked a lot stronger than Mercedes during the current season, but at times the Silver Arrows proved better at managing the race and took advantage of some of Ferrari’s unfortunate moments in the first part of the year. Still, by late-October, the Italian side had a solid 67-point advantage over Mercedes, but ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Ferrari only has a gap of 40 points due to the poor result in the Mexican Grand Prix. Some pointed out that the Maranello team would gain five percent more time in the wind tunnel by finishing third in the Constructors standings.
However, Carlos Sainz strongly rejected any ideas of gamesmanship, with the Scuderia targeting their best constructors’ championship finish in the last four years:
“I think we will take P2.” – Carlos Sainz said during Thursday’s press conference – “I think they should prioritise position in the championship. If not, we wouldn’t be fighting for positions in the championship. The competition is I think is the number one priority and finishing ahead of your competition should always be more satisfying than finishing one position behind and then not getting the wind tunnel time. Your main motivation is to finish ahead, I hope the rules are also behind that.” – the Spaniard explained.
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The media also asked the same question to Valtteri Bottas, but the Finnish driver hinted that this is a call which Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur should make:
“Good question, you should ask [Alfa Romeo team principal] Fred [Vasseur]. I think obviously there’s pros and cons. We’re not quite fully at the budget cap and we could do with some more cash, that will help for sure. I think we’re pushing for P6 and take the money and use that for quite a bit of development – driving salaries.” – Valtteri Bottas explained.
Based on the current rules and regulations, Formula 1 teams now have limited testing time available in the wind tunnel according to their final position in the constructors’ standings.
Seventh place is the baseline, and Alfa Romeo are just four points ahead of that position, currently held by Aston Martin. They’d gain 5% more testing time, but lose out on prize money for the lower finish.
The fight for the 2023 Formula 1 title should be even more interesting given the fact that Red Bull have received a penalty of 10% for the time available in the wind tunnel due to breaching the budget cap limit last year. By winning the championship in 2022, it means there is extra significance for either Mercedes or Ferrari as compared to the Austrian side. The team that ends the current season in P3 will therefore have 17% more testing time than Red Bull, which should represent a significant advantage.
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