Italian sports journalist and author Leo Turrini, who is one of Italy’s leading Formula 1 experts and is famously very close to proceedings at Scuderia Ferrari, was invited to take part in a video-column broadcast on the social media channels of FormulaUnoAnalisiTecnica.
Leo Turrini shared his thoughts on the 2022 Formula 1 championship which will begin this weekend at the Bahrain International circuit and discussed Scuderia Ferarri’s prospects for the new F1 campaign.
The Maranello team performed well in the two pre-season testing sessions at the Circuit de Catalunya and in Bahrain, so much so that Mercedes Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton indicated Ferrari as the team to beat in this first part of the 2022 championship. While Lewis Hamiltion most likely just wanted to put more pressure on the Italian side, given the high expectations for 2022, it is also true that Ferrari looked promising and completed both pre-season testing sessions with plenty of data and positive indications. In this context, can the F1-75 car fight for the race win in the first Grand Prix of the 2022 Formula 1 season?
“Lewis is a phenomenon, his numbers are extraordinary” – Leo Turrini said, as reported by funoanalisitecnica.com – “I must also say that he is an ‘old fox’. One time he says that he is in front of Red Bull, another time that they have to fix the car. I don’t think he’s sincere, I take his evaluations with a grain of salt.” – the Italian sports journalist admitted.
“Regarding Ferrari, we can say that, both in Barcelona and in Sakhir, they got answers which were in line with the theoretical data that emerged from the wind tunnel. But from here and until understanding what the level is compared to Mercedes and Red Bull, there is a long way. We have to be careful because in the tests almost everyone hides their true potential. The fuel levels are not known”. – he added.
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“I found very interesting a statement from Carlos Sainz who, responding to George Russell’s evaluations of the Ferrari car, said that he has already adapted to the Mercedes environment because from the GPS data we have seen a different picture than the idea that the W13 is in crisis. It takes prudence which must be accompanied by trust because some elements are objectively positive.”
There are just a few days left until the Bahrain GP which marks the beginning of the 2022 Formula 1 season. Leo Turrini was asked on what he thinks the outcome of the race will be:
“If I let my heart speak – said an honest Leo Turrini – I would say that in Sakhin I am not satisfied with only a second place for Ferrari. If I do my job, I have to be realistic and I cannot forget that at the end of 2021, not infrequently, Mercedes lapped Ferrari. It is difficult to imagine that Ferrari will be ahead only because of the regulation change. I’ve never seen a story like this. It can happen if you have worked well. But now at least Ferrari can fight. The Brawn Gp case is unique. In the last two years the difference between Ferrari and Mercedes was very high.” – he continued.
“It would be great if the difference in qualifying between Charles Leclerc – Carlos Sainz and Red Bull was two and three tenths – I’m not saying in favor of whom – and if on Sunday Ferrari cat stay close to them or even be ahead. This is a championship where developments will count a lot. I don’t think what we will see on Sunday will be definitive. If we see a close battle in the first race, everything will then be decided by how the teams are able to develop their product over the course of the season.” – Italian blogger and F1 expert Leo Turrini concluded.
