McLaren boss: Ferrari are ‘very happy’ with 2023 car
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Ferrari man Charles Leclerc (L) | McLaren team principal Andrea Stella (R)
Ferrari made great progress in 2022, but ultimately the season derailed, ending in disappointment. They had started on relatively equal terms with Red Bull – and ended up far behind, both in points and pace. They were simply out developed, but they were far from perfect with their race execution as well. The porpoising TD did not seem like it helped them either; as the F1-75 became a tyre eater. The two don’t have a confirmed direct link, but it does seem to have contributed to their fall from grace.
They also had to run the engine lower – due to fears of another mechanical failure (of which they had a total of 4 in 2022). All of this added up meant that were not really operating at ‘full throttle’ after the summer break. The championship hopes already looked bleak after France and Charles Leclerc’s costly error, but after the summer break, it quickly became clear that 2022 was going to be another trophyless year for Ferrari.
All of this added up meant that they were never able to reach their full potential or even get close. Their strategic errors also cost them dearly, particularly in Monaco and debatably in Hungary. They will try again in 2023, and Andrea Stella, who was recently promoted to team principal at McLaren, predicts good things for them. The Italian had worked for 14 years in various roles at the Maranello team. Clearly, he still has some connections.
As quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Stella said: “The teams to beat in the next F1 season are Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes, which at the moment compete in a different category from ours.” He expects a strong reaction from Mercedes after a disappointing 2022, but also said: “Ferrari are very happy with the new car and therefore they will certainly have a competitive start.”
Andrea Stella expects ‘difficult start’ for McLaren
McLaren spent most of 2021 locked in a battle for P3 with Ferrari, who were recovering from a catastrophic outing in 2020. While they ultimately lost, McLaren won a race – in Monza, no less. Part of their problem was that Daniel Ricciardo, their race winner, just couldn’t get to grips with the car. On the other hand, new Ferrari arrival Carlos Sainz had a great season, finishing as ‘best of the rest’.
In this sense, they took a step back in 2022, instead battling for P4 with Alpine – where they also lost. But considering just how dismal it looked for them in Bahrain, they had recovered well. Ricciardo’s performances continued to be disappointing, which ultimately led to him losing his seat. McLaren’s ambitions don’t lie in the midfield, and they will want to become ‘competitive’ again.
Highlighting the British team’s goals for 2023, Andrea Stella said: “For us in McLaren – he added – I still expect a difficult start, but I’m optimistic for the second part of the season. The most important goal is to make a fast car.” adding that they need to bridge a very big gap: “We need to recover a second, a second and a half on the others.”
In theory, no team in the midfield should be able to recover enough performance to join the top three. The performance gap is just too large, but they can still make a step forward. In 2022, only one team (and driver) outside the top three teams scored a podium – Lando Norris in Imola. The gulf in performance should shrink in 2023, and maybe McLaren can return to the front in a few years.
Also Read: Ferrari reveal dates for the launch of their car for the 2023 Formula 1 Championship campaign
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Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)