Former Ferrari test driver gives verdict on 2022 Formula 1 title battle

Former Ferrari test driver gives verdict on 2022 Formula 1 title battle. Former Ferrari test driver on 2022 Formula 1 title battle.

It is a difficult moment for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc’s mistake in the French Grand Prix reduced the Monegasque driver’s hopes of beating Red Bull and Max Verstappen in the 2022 Formula 1 title race, as their opponents are a team and a driver who make little mistakes and have proved to be very reliable during this season.

There is only one way to beat Max
All is not lost though. Pedro De la Rosa, former McLaren driver and test driver for the Prancing Horse, admitted that he still sees it a possibility: “Ferrari must be aggressive now. The only way to stop Max is to score one-two finishes in the next races, if Charles and Carlos fail, the title will be lost. It is not so much the 63-point disadvantage, but the level of the rival: Verstappen and Red Bull. The package that the two teams have is quite similar, but they are more reliable than Ferrari. It will be very difficult for them to recover.” – Pedro De la Rosa added.

Red Bull under management
Being in a big lead, another problem for the Maranello team is that “Red Bull will be able to play it safe. They will not push to the limit and will also be able to replace the engine without taking risks. Better to take a penalty on the grid and have a fresh engine rather than risk not finishing the race. In addition, this will still allow him to end the race in the top five. Now they can lose the title only if retirements arrive. The gap between the top two teams is very large in terms of speed. Mercedes is improving but this will not prevent Verstappen from scoring excellent points starting with penalties. Then there is Perez who is a great team player and will play his role perfectly,” – he added.

“The fight for victory is always between these two teams and it’s almost always Max who wins, he’s dominating. Ferrari lost many points due to reliability, strategic mistakes and the drivers. It could still be a great season, but the gap between Max and Charles is too big. Red Bull has learned from the mistakes of the beginning of the season and can count on a very mature driver, who no longer makes mistakes, except in free practice when he goes in search of the limit. Max drives like a true champion. He knows exactly when it’s time to push, the fights with Leclerc have been fantastic. He has always been on the safe side. Conquering the title in 2021 allowed him to take the next step as well,” – former Ferrari test driver Pedro De la Rosa concluded.