Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz was recently confirmed by the Maranello team until the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season after having signed a new deal, meaning that both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are now certain to remain with the Italian side for the following two years.
And Ferrari chairman John Elkann admitted that he is very pleased with the Maranello team’s line-up, but also the team as a whole, pointing out to the execution of pit stops as a huge improvement in the 2022 Formula 1 season, after the first four rounds of the championship:
“We have two great drivers on their own merits, but more importantly they’re a team,” John Elkann explained – “And that’s what is important for Ferrari, and something I’m very proud of personally is to see how far Ferrari as a team, from our drivers to our engineers and mechanics, have worked well together. Our performance at the pit stops, 48% under three seconds in 2020, going up to 78% in 2021 and this year we are at 89% and that tells it.” – he added.
Based on what could be seen on track so far, Ferrari are in a strong position to challenge Red Bull for the world titles, which would be the first time since 2008 when Ferrari is able to fight for such targets, but John Elkann knows very well that the championship is still very long and a lot can change especially as a result of the development updates which will be introduced by the teams.
For now, Charles Leclerc still has a solid 27-point advantage over Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship despite the unfortunate outcome in the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, while Scuderia Ferrari are 11 points ahead of Red Bull in the Constructors’ standings ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, which takes place next week:
“We said we’d be competitive, which we are, from being competitive to winning is like going to the moon or going to Mars, extremely difficult,” John Elkann continued – “We well know that championships are won or lost at the last race, or the last lap, and these are the variables we control and [there are] many we don’t, which is why Formula 1 is such an exciting sport and we are, as Ferrari, so excited about this challenge.”
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When asked about the new generation of Formula 1 cars which we have seen on track this season, John Elkann confirmed the new rules and regulations have brought the “fun” back to the sport, while at the same time achieved its goal of increasing the competitiveness of the teams. As a result, the Ferrari chairman wanted to praise the series’ former CEO Chase Carey, and the current CEO, ex-Ferrari principal Stefano Domenicali, for the job they have done:
“I think it’s great, I think it’s wonderful to see how it’s become fun, that the competitiveness has increased, that a lot of talent is coming to Formula 1. And I credit Chase Carey and Stefano Domenicali for the great work they’ve achieved in giving a future to Formula 1.” – John Elkann concluded.
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