And we are back at the same story. Ferrari shines in the WEC: brilliant, radiant, with three consecutive Le Mans victories, and now, three years into this incredible journey starting from scratch, claiming both titles in the category. The Constructors’ Championship, in particular, had likely eluded them for 53 years, during much of which the Prancing Horse had not even competed in the prototype world championship.
Ferrari: excellence overshadowed by misfortune
Yet the brighter the Prancing Horse shines in endurance racing, the darker the shadow looms over its Formula 1 campaign. A perfect weekend in one category contrasts sharply with the tragic outcomes in another, leaving fans perplexed once again. And the story remains the same, even accounting for all the differences between endurance racing and Formula 1.
In Formula 1, the Maranello team seems unlikely to win a race this calendar year and now sits fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, a position that aligns with their performance so far, with only three races remaining. There were mitigating circumstances this past weekend at the Interlagos circuit in Brazil. Charles Leclerc performed a small miracle in qualifying, securing third place and opening up interesting scenarios.
However, misfortune struck when Charles Leclerc was taken out by a daring move from Oscar Piastri on Kimi Antonelli, which resulted in the Australian colliding with the unlucky Charles and leaving the front suspension destroyed. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton suffered damage, penalties, and delivered one of his worst races since joining the Maranello team. Another double zero points day, reminiscent of the O.O logo on the SF-25’s side panels in its non-alcoholic sponsor version.
Learning from Verstappen and Red Bull
Turning away from Ferrari, the race itself was intense, driven by the relentless Max Verstappen. Red Bull offers an example of how a top team should operate under pressure: leaving nothing to chance, taking risks despite potential mistakes, and adjusting setups meticulously. Even when starting from the pitlane and suffering a puncture, the four-time F1 World Champion nearly clawed his way to second place—a monumental feat. And even the eventual third-place finish was impressive, given how the weekend started, especially after qualifying.
Looking ahead to the final races
The last three Grands Prix promise to be exciting, although Lando Norris has pulled ahead, and Oscar Piastri seems lost in the fog of his own mind. We cannot complain, but the Drivers’ Championship may soon be all but decided. It is a shame, because a closer duel between the two McLaren leaders and Max Verstappen would have been a treat for Formula 1 fans. For now, though, we can only hope for some surprises before the season concludes in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, the standard mid-season break provides a pause before heading to the third U.S. Grand Prix in Las Vegas, with the two McLaren drivers back in contention and no time to rest. Ferrari’s dual reality—world champion in endurance racing and plagued by misfortune in F1—remains a striking contrast for fans and teams alike.
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