F1 Constructors' standings: Ferrari lost 45 points to McLaren in two races

The nightmare of 2020 returns
Three years ago, amid the pandemic, Scuderia Ferrari was experiencing its most challenging Formula 1 season – in terms of results achieved – since 1980. No wins, only three podiums, and above all, a humiliating sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship. However, that was the year of Covid, the championship starting in the middle of summer, with engines ‘handicapped’ by the secret agreement with the FIA. It was thought that, despite the crisis of results that increasingly overshadowed Maranello’s sky, such a negative outcome would not be reached again. Instead, looking at the numbers, Ferrari must wake up, as there is a real risk that 2023 could turn into something very similar to that debacle.

Breathing down their necks
Last year, Ferrari was in the running for the world title for half the Formula One season, and second place in the Constructors’ Championship was the starting point for this year, which – in everyone’s predictions – needed to be maintained at the very least. Instead, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz quickly discovered that their SF-23 was the fourth force on the track, being surpassed not only by Red Bull but also by Mercedes and Aston Martin. Now, the performance gap with the Silverstone-based team seems to be bridged, but the Scuderia remains behind Lawrence Stroll’s team in the standings, and behind them, they can feel McLaren breathing down their necks.

The Woking team, led by Andrea Stella – an ex-Ferrari member increasingly missed – introduced a 2.0 version of the MCL60 in Austria, and the results did not take long to arrive. Starting from the British Grand Prix, when the updates were available for both drivers, the papaya cars secured two second places with Lando Norris and a fourth and fifth place with Oscar Piastri. The gap with Ferrari, which was 125 points after Austria, has now been reduced to 80 points. In two races, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have cut 45 points off Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Soft cushion, but not too much
On paper, an ’80-point cushion’ seems more than reassuring. By comparison, Ferrari has to recover ‘only’ 56 points from Mercedes. However, the fact that there are still 11 races to go in the championship and that in the last two weekends, the British team has averaged 22.5 points per GP, cannot help but frighten the fans of the Prancing Horse. To finish ahead of Ferrari in the championship, McLaren would have to gain just over seven points on average per race. A haul that is by no means impossible, considering the recent performances of the two MCL60s.

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At this point, Aston Martin is also trembling, as they precede the Maranello-based team by only 17 points. What is certain is that Ferrari must avoid slipping to fifth place in the Constructors’ standings at all costs. It would be a harsh blow to their image and would hardly allow them to prepare the necessary redemption attempt that must be made in 2024.