After savouring the taste of a sweet second position finish, achieved by Charles Leclerc at the 2021 British Grand Prix, there is no doubt that Ferrari will head to the Hungary Grand Prix with an appetite for more success. The Scuderia team has only managed one other podium finish thus far this season, which came when Carlos Sainz claimed second spot at Monaco.
Hot conditions at Silverstone were ideally suited to the Scuderia setup, although there will undoubtedly be some regrets at what could have been a greater day at the iconic home of British racing. The Ferrari of Leclerc led for most of the race, before being passed by the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton with just two laps remaining. Were it not for a delayed pit stop, Sainz would also have finished higher than sixth position.
Ahhhhhhhh, incredibly close. I gave absolutely everything to win this race but lost out in the last two laps. The biggest victory today though is to see Max safe after that big crash. Now on to Hungary, thank you for the support ❤️ pic.twitter.com/PmoGwkdc3R
— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) July 18, 2021
Improving championship chances
Many of the leading bookmakers have McLaren and Ferrari neck-and-neck at around 250/1 odds, when it comes to outright betting on the 2021 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship. However, with little separating the two teams, along with such a large gap in points behind Red Bull and Mercedes, they will undoubtedly be fighting for third spot in the final standings.
That would still be a huge improvement, compared to the dismal 2020 campaign Ferrari produced, having frustratingly finished way down in sixth position last year. Nevertheless, there have been strong signs of improvement, with the Scuderia team now genuinely capable of competing regularly for podium finishes.
Set in our sights. Next Sunday awaits 🤘#essereFerrari 🔴 #HungarianGP @CarlosSainz55 pic.twitter.com/ulYScheUrp
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) July 25, 2021
As those who bet regularly on Formula 1 races will be aware, both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz can offer good value odds to achieve podium results. However, sensible bettors will often check a list of the very best betting sites available, before betting on the Ferrari duo. Odds and markets can vary significantly, whilst some also offer free bets and bonuses.
Variance between online bookies can be quite striking. For example, bet365 are offering 16/1 odds for Charles Leclerc to win the Hungarian Grand Prix, whereas William Hill value his chances at 22/1 odds. This highlights why it is always worthwhile shopping around to get the best odds, ahead of each and every F1 race.
Ferrari focusing more on 2022
Although they will undoubtedly be eager to close the gap on Mercedes and Red Bull this year, there is little doubt the primary objective at Ferrari is being even more competitive in 2022. Scuderia sporting director Laurent Mekies has already admitted as much, in comments recorded by motorsport.com after the Spanish Grand Prix in May.
“We are pretty much already in full switch,” Mekies confirmed in Barcelona, suggesting his team have already dedicated “90 to 95 percent” of resources to that aim. “For us it is a clear decision,” he underlined, despite obvious concerns amongst Ferrari fans at the lack of 2021 updates, while main rivals McLaren haven’t ruled out updates to this year’s cars.
While the stance taken by Ferrari could be regarded as something of a gamble, ahead of the new technical regulations being introduced by F1 for the 2022 season, the team itself is keen to make good headway with development. That could bring the Scuderia a distinct advantage when they head into the next championship campaign.
Ferrari hasn’t won the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship since 2008, which is far too long for a team and marque of such high stature and renown. That was at the back end of one of the team’s most successful periods in F1 history, having dominated for almost an entire decade and winning eight of ten championships, mostly with the aid of Michael Schumacher.
Will 2022 herald a new Scuderia golden age?
Clearly there is plenty of catching up to do for Ferrari, if they hope to provide serious competition for Mercedes and Red Bull in the years to come. That said, the new F1 regulations and technical changes are aimed at making the sport more competitive. The new aerodynamic differences are quite striking, with designs now already released.
In the meantime, Leclerc and Sainz will need to do the best they can with the current Ferrari cars, before looking ahead to next season and the exciting potential of increased success with the team. It could well prove that planning ahead was the wise decision to take, although only time will tell if they have a competitive advantage heading into next season.
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