It's a bitter, very bitter weekend for Ferrari. The Maranello team, precisely in the GP in which they didn't want us, didn't go beyond sixth position with Charles Leclerc. Nothing to do for Carlos Sainz, forced to retire at the start of the race due to a contact with Ricciardo.
A wet Sunday
Ferrari comes out defeated from the home weekend, despite the fact that the start was undoubtedly excellent. On Friday, in the rain, the great strength of the Reds in the wet was seen and the possibility that the variable rain could loom and participate in Sunday's race was very high. However, the problems arrived already in the afternoon, with the qualification and the mistake of Carlos Sainz. However, the Spaniard had the strength to be able to redeem himself in the Sprint on Saturday, together with an excellent performance from Leclerc who, due to graining at the front, had to leave the first position to Max Verstappen.
Between predictions and surprises
The situation at Ferrari therefore, arriving on Sunday morning, could only be hopeful. The rain was insistent on the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack, and the chances of doing well by starting second, with Leclerc, and fourth, with Sainz, were there. However, not everything in racing always goes as you think. The Grand Prix begins and we immediately witness the first twist: Carlos Sainz is bumped into at the start by Ricciardo and is forced to retire. Nothing to do for the Madrilenian, undoubtedly very unfortunate, not only in being hindered and touched by Ricciardo, but also in getting covered up without being able to leave again. Unlike Australia, this zero weighs a ton. It is the second in a row, combined with that of Melbourne, and perhaps the fact that Sainz is not to blame, also makes us understand the great bad luck the number 55 on the grid had.
The avoidable but… human error
The race continues with Ferrari which therefore only has one driver on the track: Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque is third and tries several times to attack Perez, firmly second. The decision of the race directors not to enable the DRS undoubtedly disadvantaged Charles Leclerc. In fact, the Monegasque tried several times to overtake Checo, without ever succeeding. We therefore moved on to a new strategy at Ferrari: Leclerc returns to the pits and mounts the softs, for a final stint. The Monegasque, once he overtook Norris for third place, continues in pursuit of Perez, until he makes a mistake at the Variante Alta: Leclerc turns, goes into the block, restarts but the wing is damaged. Return to the pits and restart from ninth position. In the end, the Monegasque finishes sixth, but one wonders: was it worth it? Risking so much, pushing a car to the limit with which you could aim for third place maximum? Leclerc knows he made a mistake and, after three perfect races, a mistake can happen. But now, if the goal is the world championship, with a Verstappen on fire, so many margins of error will no longer be allowed for Leclerc and Ferrari.
Head to the next
Now, however, it is also right to change and turn the page. A week of rest can only be good for Ferrari and Leclerc. In Maranello they know it and we all know it in the end: Ferrari is strong and Leclerc has everything to win the title. A small mistake can happen. Head to the next one then, in Miami where we will undoubtedly see a Ferrari firmly in the top positions and… with some small changes.
