Ferrari has taken a step down from their position in the championship in 2022, dropping down to third from second in the 2023 season after losing out to Mercedes in the battle for P2. The Scuderia Ferrari suffered a lot of misfortune across the season, losing them a significant amount of valuable points.

The two Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc did not cross the chequered flag a total of seven times across the season, losing out on close to a hundred potential points. Team principal Fred Vasseur has said that this must not be an excuse for substandard performance, and the historical team needs to be more opportunistic coming into the next season.

For sure, we gave up more points than our competitors and that means it is another topic that we need to work on for next year, to be more opportunistic and more efficient.

Fred Vasseur said, as reported by motorsportweek.com

Ferrari has achieved one feat in 2023 that no other squad on the grid has managed though. With Sainz taking victory at the Singapore GP, Ferrari became the only team other than Red Bull to win a race this season, though they could not secure the P2 spot in the Championship.

Charles Leclerc disappointed by Ferrari’s 2023 campaign

Ferrari’s star driver Charles Leclerc has driven for the team since the 2019 season, following a stellar rookie season in the Sauber team. Leclerc has had championship hopes since his debut with the Scuderia, winning a title with the team being his childhood dream.

This has still not come to fruition, Leclerc’s closest shot at a title coming in 2022 when the Monegasque driver took three wins before losing momentum after crashing out of the French Grand Prix. The 2023 season was supposed to be a promising campaign for the team, but Red Bull’s unprecedented dominance and misfortune for the scarlet red squad meant they could only manage P3 in the Constructor’s Trophy.

Charles Leclerc had some highs during the season, with multiple podium finishes, but was still disappointed. The 25-year-old lamented another year that the most successful team in F1 history once again failed to bring the fight to the top of the table.

After last year, we expected to come to this season and try and fight for the championship which after the first race, we straightaway understood how difficult it will be compared to the Red Bull that had done a huge step forward, especially in race pace. We didn't do the same step. So from that moment onwards, it was a bit disappointing.

Charles Leclerc said, as reported by racingnews365

Ferrari has not won a single Drivers’ Championship since their 2007 title with Kimi Raikkonen, and a Constructors’ Championship since 2008 when Felipe Massa attempted an unsuccessful title charge of his own. Ferrari has had a driver finish second five times since then, with Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, and Charles Leclerc all filling the runner-up spot in the points table atleast once.

In case you missed it:

• Fred Vasseur promises Ferrari will ‘push the limits in every aspect’ in 2024
• Lewis Hamilton labels James Allison as the ‘North star’ who will lead Mercedes back to glory

Stay Updated!

Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.

Subscribe NOW