Ferrari vice chairman Piero Ferrari, the second and only living son of Enzo Ferrari, and a 10.23% owner of the Ferrari automotive company, feels that the Maranello team’s driver lineup of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz as the best in Formula 1.
Charles Leclerc joined Scuderia Ferrari three years ago, while Carlos Sainz moved to the Italian side last season after two strong years with McLaren, as Ferrari felt he would be the ideal replacement for Sebastian Vettel. Their performance during the 2021 Formula 1 championship, that helped the Maranello team secure P3 in the Constructors’ Championship, led team principal Mattia Binotto to declare that he could rely on the best driver lineup in Formula 1.
His statements were confirmed in this first half of the season, with Charles Leclerc winning two of the first three races in 2022, until a series of reliability problems and bad strategy calls helped Max Verstappen take the lead of the Championship and even build a solid gap in front. Carlos Sainz currently sits fourth in the Drivers’ standings, 37 points behind Charles Leclerc, while Scuderia Ferrari hold P2 in the Constructors’ with a deficit of 56 points behind Red Bull.
In a recent interview for Maxim, Piero Ferrari echoed the sentiments of team principal Mattia Binotto by describing Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz as the best lineup in Formula 1.
Asked whether the two reminded him of some of Formula 1’s greatest names in Ferrari’s line-ups of the past, the Ferrari vice chairman explained:
“Leclerc and Sainz now combining youth with talent, he replied: “It’s always difficult to draw comparisons between past and present drivers. Charles Leclerc is a smart driver, an extremely gifted guy in all respects, with extraordinary reflexes and great focus. Carlos Sainz has also proven to be a fast and reliable young man. They are superb, and they make the perfect match. Today, they are the best pair in the Championship.” – he added.
While Max Verstappen is the clear favourite for the 2022 Formula 1 world title, given his solid performances in this first half of the season, the pace of his RB18 cars and the fact that both Ferrari drivers will have to take other grid penalties at some point, Charles Leclerc still believes in the title, just like Piero.
The Ferrari vice chairman highlighted the fact that while the team has seen “lean” periods in its history, Ferrari has always entered a “new winning cycle” and he has “faith” that the next one is now on the horizon.
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2008 was the last season when the Maranello team won the F1 title: “We must seize the opportunity presented by the most significant rules-change in over 40 years. The Scuderia Ferrari team has really pulled together and responded to the many difficulties that have come up. We want to get back to fighting for first place — that’s our goal this season. I’ve overseen various aspects of the motorsports area since 1970. Fingers crossed, it seems to me that Scuderia Ferrari is on the right track, and the Bahrain GP was the best way to start the 2022 season. I’m confident because I know how much work has gone into the new F1-75 car. In the history of Ferrari (we are the oldest team running, having competed in every world championship since 1950), there have certainly been lean periods, but we have always got moving again with new winning cycles. I have faith and am looking forward to it, also because Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are excellent drivers.” – the Ferrari vice chairman concluded.
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