Postponing the Red Bull party for winning the 2022 Formula 1 Constructors’ World Championship was a difficult task for Scuderia Ferrari ahead of the United States Grand Prix, as the Maranello team needed to gain 18 points more than the Austrian side at the Circuit of the Americas. The retirement suffered by Carlos Sainz after just one lap, made what would have been a difficult feat practically impossible.
The Spaniard was hit by George Russell’s Mercedes in a delicate area of the F1-75 which saw the cooling system damaged with consequent pressure increase in the left side of the #55 Ferrari, that forced Carlos to retire after just one lap. The pole position obtained in qualifying on Saturday thus went up in smoke after a few hundred meters, a real shame considering that the Maranello team has taken 14 poles this season, just like in 2004, when Ferrari won both F1 titles at the end of the campaign.
Charles Leclerc, also thanks to a greatly-timed Safety Car, suddenly found himself fighting for victory in the United States Grand Prix, but the last stint with medium tires was not up to the level of degradation that Red Bull and Max Verstappen had. The Dutchman was therefore able to recover the gap to Lewis Hamilton and secure the thirteen success of the 2022 Formula One season, a figure that brings him to the absolute record held by Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher with still three chances to overcome the German pair this year, in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto commented the race held in Texas at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) as follows:
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
“Obviously, there are mixed emotions after today’s race. Through no fault of his own, Carlos was out after the opening lap. Charles meanwhile staged a great climb up the order, which took him all the way to the podium. We know that currently, we are lacking something in the races when compared to Red Bull, who by winning the title today honoured their founder in the best way possible. We will continue to work on giving them a hard time, starting right from next week in Mexico and naturally, we are also working hard on our preparation for the challenges that lie ahead next season.” – the Ferrari boss concluded.
Leave a Reply