After a second-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jnr showed he had the pace to compete at the top of the standings.
While there is still a long way to go, and other top drivers ahead of him in the standings, it looks like Sainz could be in the mix for the title come the business end of the season.
A Tough Weekend In Monaco
While Ferrari’s ultimately disappointing overall weekend in Monaco was well documented, second-place Sainz did manage to earn himself a fourth podium finish inside the first seven races of the season. Sainz, who is +5000 in the Paddy Power odds to win the Drivers’ Championship this season, has shown he does have the pace in his Ferrari to compete. The Scuderia, of course, have two very competitive drivers who both harbor ambitions of race wins and titles in 2022. Getting that balance right between individual goals and working as a team is something the organization is trying to manage going forward.
What will give Ferrari hope of challenging for titles this season is that the strategy issues from Monaco should be resolved quickly, as covered on the BBC. Sainz and the rest of the team will have had plenty of meetings after the events in Monte Carlo and the Scuderia will be determined to make sure those inaccuracies in tactics don’t recur down the line. Taking those strategy issues aside, all that you’re left with is two strong drivers and a car that looks like it has the ability to challenge this season’s frontrunners, Red Bull.
Real Signs Of Progress
There are no doubts that Sainz and Ferrari have made significant improvements from the 2021 campaign and his dad has been quick to support him during a tricky spell this season, as explained in an interview with him on the Formula One site. Finishing down in third place in the Constructors’ Championship last season, the Scuderia were unable to keep the pace with eventual winners Mercedes. However, a dip in form for the reigning constructors’ champions Mercedes, and the progress made by Ferrari since last season, means the Scuderia are in a position to challenge frontrunners Red Bull for the title. Sat in second place in the standings after the first eventful seven races of the season, Ferrari’s two cars have shown real pace and the two drivers and the team can take great credit for that.
Sainz might be ranked as an outsider to win the Drivers’ Championship this season but the Spaniard has been showing consistency in his racing, which means he could be a surprise contender come the business end of the campaign. While Monaco was an opportunity missed by Ferrari to bag another place at the top of the podium, perhaps it could be seen as a turning point in the season when the errors made focused minds and strategy within the team.
It looks set to be an exciting race for the title in 2022 and Sainz and Ferrari are determined to be part of the conversation at its conclusion.
