Ferrari, terrible return from the summer break
“The second half of the year is my best period and it will be even stronger from our side“. The words of Lewis Hamilton spoken at the end of July, just after the Hungarian GP, did not come true, judging by Ferrari’s return from the summer break. And, in fact, they even risk making people smile in light of the controversies involving the SF-26, especially in Zandvoort and Monza.
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Back from vacation, the Maranello team has scored 51 points (31 in the Netherlands, also thanks to the Sprint, eight in Monza and 12 in Madrid). A very poor balance, worsened by Charles Leclerc’s mistake at Alboreto and the technical problem with the brake by wire that knocked Hamilton out in Spain.
The situation is dire for a team that until Hungary was still dreaming of the Drivers’ title. In three weekends, Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris, taken individually, have scored more points than the two Ferraris: 73 for the Bolognese, 58 for the world champion. Even George Russell, in constant difficulty and growing confusion, alone has the same haul as the Red from Zandvoort onwards: 51 points.
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Hamilton’s gap from the Drivers’ World Championship leader has more than doubled in just three weekends, going from -50 to -101, while the Scuderia sees Mercedes pulling further away in the Constructors’ Championship. Here too the gap has more than doubled: from 72 points after the Hungaroring to 145 points after Madrid. And now, with the rise of McLaren, Ferrari has to look behind, having only 52 points over the papaya’s P3.
Worsening the balance is the update issue. Ferrari has indeed brought aerodynamic developments in the Netherlands and the second token for the power unit granted by the ADUO system in Monza. So far the novelties have not brought the expected benefits. And now, while the Scuderia might think about serving a grid penalty in Baku, the ball is in the rivals’ court, because McLaren will introduce the final part of the package debuted at the Hungaroring, while Mercedes will bring important developments to Sepang.
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