Despite the hammering Ferrari took this past Formula 1 season, and the uncertainty of a new boss for the future, Carlos Sainz is optimistic that 2023 could be their year.
A one-two at the season opener in Bahrain, back in March, plus a strong early showing had Tifosi daring to dream that the 14-year F1 title drought for Maranello would come to an end.
However a long list of strategy errors, driver errors, and questionable management decisions, in the end, turned the handy Ferrari F1-75 into a loser against the ever-improving Red Bull RB18, which enjoyed an upwardly mobile development program throughout the mammoth season gone by. Their Red rivals did not.
As a result, the 2022 F1 title was decided long before the season ended in favour of their nemesis Max Verstappen who made the most of Adrian Newey’s brainchild to win a record 15 races, with Sergio Perez claiming another two wins as Red Bull claimed their first F1 constructors’ title since 2013.
Sainz admitted to MotoriOnline that Red Bull’s relentless and effective development program ambushed the Scuderia: “You never expect that, especially when you have a good car to start with. I would have liked to have felt a little more at ease at the start of the season.
“Together with Charles, we could’ve tried more to put Verstappen under pressure. Red Bull are dominant now but at the start of the season, they certainly weren’t, and that’s where they’ve done an amazing job,” acknowledged Sainz, referencing how well the RB18 evolved during the 22 races of 2022.
Big changes at Ferrari for 2023
Ferrari have been in turmoil since Mattia Binotto’s time as team principal began to be in doubt, around midseason, the inevitable chop came in December, whereupon Ferrari announced that former Renault and Sauber motorsport veteran, Fred Vasseur would be the boss at #19 Via Abetone Inferiore from January 2023.
Nevertheless, Sainz sees the opportunities that lie ahead for Ferrari in 2023: “New year, new car, we have another chance and I have full confidence that the team will produce another great car, like the one we had this year, and that we will learn from the mistakes we made during the season.
“I will learn from the mistakes I made this year and we will be more ready to fight. I can’t wait for Mercedes to come and fight up front with us too. My goal is to start the year at my current level which I think is quite decent, and make things more difficult for Max,” declared Sainz.
The 28-year-old Spaniard finished fifth in the 2022 F1 drivers world championship standings; claiming his first pole position and Grand Prix victory at Silverstone in July. 2023 will be Sainz’s ninth season in the top flight.