This is what we needed. Ferrari in Brazil proves to have, in a sense, driven out the specters seen in Mexico and snatches a third place with Carlos Sainz and a fourth place with Charles Leclerc. Super performance by both riders, called to different comebacks, but not easy for this.
Sainz and Ferrari: a unique feeling
Carlos's weekend Sainz can be summed up with the word "comeback”. The reason is very simple. On Friday, during the first free practice session, Ferrari chose to mount him a new ICE, thus accepting the five penalty positions to be served in the race. With the peculiarity of the weekend structure (license plate Sprint), the Spaniard was forced into a showdown: try to limit the damage in the Sprint, and he did it by placing second, and finish in a good area on Sunday in the race, and he did it. Sainz is definitely the rider who comes out with very broad shoulders this weekend.
He had great solidity and above all an excellent pace which, with a few more laps, could even make one think of a hypothetical victory. If these are the foundations for next season, and above all the feeling with the cars, the decision of first and second driver in the Ferrari house will certainly not be so obvious.
The real teaching brought home by Leclerc
Charles' race was different Leclerc, as well as his weekend full of unpredictability and mistakes. In qualification, fitting the intermediate tire was a clear mistake, and it was evident. However, this does not mean breaking down but, as explained by the Monegasque himself, knowing “Pay the consequences”. Charles paid them, just as he owed pay for Norris's bad mistake who, by blocking him, forced him to reinvent himself a comeback that only someone like him could perform. The Monegasque's talent is always incredible, as is his fame. The desire to end the season in second place in the drivers' championship is enormous but, should he reach it or not, Charles has already brought home his real weakness. Knowing how to raise your voice when needed with the low wall, because scenes like Brazil 2.0, if you want to win the title, you don't have to commit anymore.
Head to Abu Dhabi…and then to 2023
With such a beautiful Ferrari, even if not a winning one, the expectations of seeing a good 2023 are undoubtedly high. Although the head is already on next season, the time has come to close the year and it will be done this weekend in which to win it would really be the best message first of all for the fans and then for the whole environment Red.
