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Fifteen years since their last title, over two years since their last win...the Prancing Horse has looked more like a lame duck in recent years. Ferrari is the biggest name in Formula 1 and to have a title drought like this is unacceptable to their legion of fans. A massive change in regulations has given them the ability to pump resources into their new car and this year could be when they hit the front again.

 

Their driver line-up is as strong as any on the grid. Charles Leclerc is a race winner and with nine positions to his name has the outright speed needed to be a top contender. Carlos Sainz is yet to win his first Grand Prix. The 27 year old has lots of experience though and has shown himself to be a solid driver, who can play his role within a team by providing feedback aiding in the development of the car.

 

Last year it was Sainz that, narrowly, claimed the honour of top Ferrari driver. The Spaniard’s four podiums will give him plenty of off-season momentum but expect Leclerc to bounce back. His speed and ability has marked him out as a coming man within the Formula 1 paddock since his 2016 GP3 title. This could be the year we fully see his ability come to the fore.

 

Last year both drivers made mistakes. Pushing to the limit makes it easy to overstep the mark and Leclerc in particular was hit hard by crashes in Monaco, Belgium and Saudi Arabia. Sainz made his mistakes during the summer and lost out on valuable track time during practice as a result. Avoiding these mistakes is critical if you can mount a title challenge.

 

At the opening test of the 2022 campaign Ferrari hit the track and looked very competitive. Leclerc was evenly matched with the reigning World Cham- pion, Max Verstappen. Their performance bodes well for the coming season but testing times need to be taken with a pinch of salt. You're never quite sure what teams are trying to achieve and what fuel loads they are running. That being said all signs point to progress for Ferrari.

 

Ferrari hasn’t won a race since September 2019. They haven’t claimed a Drivers Championship since 2007. This year they could spring a surprise and become a dark horse contender.

 

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