Insofar as the Formula One Constructors’ Championship is concerned, Ferrari are well within reach of meeting their expectations for the 2021 season, as they battle with McLaren for third position in the overall points table. This would be a huge improvement on the 2020 campaign, when the team finished sixth in the championship, which is a huge underachievement for an organisation of such prestige and history.
But how about the two Scuderia Ferrari drivers this year, how far are they both reaching towards their objectives this year? After a sterling first 2019 campaign with the team, scoring 264 points and finishing 4th in the overall in the Drivers’ Championship standings, Charles Leclerc endured a frustrating 2020 campaign and finished eighth on just 98 points.
Arriving at Ferrari with a trajectory of almost constant progress, Carlos Sainz Jr. had finished 6th in each of his last two seasons with McLaren, hopeful that he could continue pushing to finish higher in the Drivers’ Championship standings. Already, the Spaniard seems on track to produce what could be his best campaign to date, since debuting in 2015 with Torro Rosso.
Carlos Sainz Jr.
As the son of iconic Carlos Sainz, the iconic twice World Rally Championship winning driver, high expectations were always going to be part of the legacy, when Carlos Sainz Jr. followed in the tyre tracks of his father. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old could be a future F1 champion, if the consistency of his progress is any indication.
P3! Perfect start and strong race overall. Lost the lead after graining the fronts on the mediums but recovered well on the hards before the rain. We did the right call for the inters to secure a podium we had fought the whole way. Vamos!
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) September 26, 2021
👉https://t.co/HzshpAbfYS#CarlosSainz pic.twitter.com/o9LYVCUuiZ
Having joined Ferrari on a two-year contract ahead of the 2021 season, the immediate focus for Sainz will have undoubtedly been further improvement. Racing with McLaren he achieved just two podium finishes in two seasons, having claimed 3rd at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2019, followed by a 2nd spot at the Italian Grand Prix in 2020. In both campaigns, Sainz finished 6th in the overall standings.
Since arriving at Ferrari, it’s fair to say that Sainz now covets 5th or higher in the 2021 Drivers’ Championship standings, which is well within reach. Already having registered his best points tally for any season, Sainz is hungry for more podium finishes in the famous red car. An excellent run to 2nd position at Monaco was followed by 3rd in Hungary, while the superb drive to 3rd in Russia means this could be a great season for the Spanish driver.
Charles Leclerc
Widely considered to be a star of the future and potential world champion in years to come, 23-year-old Charles Leclerc has already made an impressive start to his F1 career. After winning the 2017 FIA Formula 2 Championship with Prema Racing, he achieved a highly creditable 13th position in the 2018 F1 Drivers’ Championship, which caught the eye of Ferrari.
A happy @Charles_Leclerc photographed after the British Grand Prix 😁
— Charles Leclerc Fan Page (@LeclercNews) July 21, 2019
📸 : Mario Renzi / mariorenzif1 (IG)#F1 #Charles16 pic.twitter.com/ADbbGLkDyh
Although the Scuderia organisation raised some eyebrows when they signed on Leclerc, he quickly repaid their confidence with a magnificent 2019 campaign, finishing fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with 10 podiums and 2 wins. Unfortunately, the 2020 season was largely forgettable for both the driver and his team, yet within a poor year he still managed 2 podium finishes.
Clearly aiming to recapture the best of his form, while Leclerc will not manage the successes of 2019 in 2021, he has been desperately unlucky not to gain more podium finishes this year. Aside from grabbing 2nd spot at the 2021 British Grand Prix, the Monegasque driver has agonisingly finished 4th in four races and 5th in another, close enough to sense climbing the podium steps.
Battle for team and individual prestige
There has undoubtedly been a very healthy rivalry between Sainz and Leclerc, which can only benefit the Ferrari team going forward. But which of this dynamic duo is tipped to finish higher in the 2021 Drivers’ Championship standings? Sainz now has the points advantage after the race in Russia, although many of the leading bookmakers are still backing Leclerc, who is expected to get more podium finishes before the season ends.
Team effort 💯💪❤️@carlossainz55#essereFerrari🔴 #RussianGP pic.twitter.com/ewyUe61fBr
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) September 26, 2021
Deciding which of the pair will score the most points is a tough call, just as choosing where to place bets can often be a challenging decision. F1 is highlighted as one of the most popular sports in the Arabic world, according to Arabian Betting, who provide expert guides and reviews for all the best sports betting sites. This includes tips for major events, plus information about how to stay safe and secure when placing bets.
Using a VPN can help bettors in MENA countries to protect their online identities, which is explained in detail by Arabian Betting, who also highlight the popularity of live and in-play betting markets. These will undoubtedly be a focus of keen attention for many bettors, especially if they’re backing Ferrari drivers Leclerc and Sainz, as they aim for the prestige of which can finish highest in the Drivers’ Championship.
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