Going on vacation with confidence
The first half of 2023 Formula One season has been particularly challenging for Scuderia Ferrari, but paradoxically, the red team managed to go on vacation with a smile, unlike their direct rivals for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, behind the unbeatable Red Bull.
Mercedes, Aston Martin, and McLaren all had something to regret during the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps weekend, while the Prancing Horse experienced one of the highest points of their season in Sunday’s race. Charles Leclerc’s third-place finish, achieved without major dramas for once, seems to have paved the way for an encouraging return to the track at the end of summer.
Certainly, there was the unfortunate retirement of Carlos Sainz, knocked out by the contact with Oscar Piastri at the first corner. However, at this point in the year, the most important news is the rediscovered speed of the SF-23. Team principal Frederic Vasseur wisely preached calm. Before expressing too much enthusiasm, they want to establish a positive trend over several consecutive races; only then can they truly say they are on the right track. Nevertheless, several Italian newspapers have shown a fair amount of optimism for the second half of the red season. There is also an objective to strive for: the role of Red Bull’s runner-up at the end of the year.
Achievable goals
“[…] There are two championships in one. And Ferrari is not participating in the first one,” writes Giorgio Burreddu for the Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport. “It’s Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s championship […]. But the other championship, the one involving teams that are not alien, is still within reach for the Prancing Horse. […] The race was held with only the references from the free practice sessions and under crazy track conditions. However, taming it, albeit within the limits of the supersonic Red Bull, gives Ferrari a sign: the road is long, but the direction is right.” – Corriere dello Sport wrote.
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Italian journalist Stefano Mancini in La Stampa also aligns with those who express a certain confidence in Ferrari’s progress with the SF-23, highlighting how the Maranello team is finally “starting to understand.” At the same time, it is also emphasized that Red Bull’s supremacy over the entire competition risks lasting for a long time. “The summer break helps to regroup and arrive in Zandvoort, the Netherlands, with the latest updates for the second part of the championship. Meanwhile, all resources are being directed to the 2024 project, with the goal of understanding the secrets of Red Bull […]. […], but to stay grounded in reality, one needs to consider this: to close the gap to Red Bull, a regulatory change is required. The next one will be in 2026. Understanding requires a lot of patience.” – La Stampa concluded.
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