Ferrari, led by Charles Leclerc, find themselves caught in a gloomy descent. Their fortunes have been fading after the setbacks of the 2022 season. After gradually slipping away from their status as viable contenders for the championship, the team made significant changes in a bid to reclaim their position.
Yet, the crown only slips further from their grasp today. Revered NASCAR icon, Danica Patrick puts the team under intense scrutiny, holding them accountable for their current predicament.
Lots of work to do 👊
A tough race for us yesterday. @CarlosSainz55 & @Charles_Leclerc drove a great recovery and scored some valuable points for the team ❤️
We keep fighting and never give up! pic.twitter.com/Wq5lgF12SE
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) May 8, 2023
The Maranello legends have used the excuse of being in a “learning process” with their 2023 challenger. However, it’s been five races in and Ferrari only fall further away from the benchmark set by Red Bull. Sainz, the leading car in red, finished over 42 seconds behind the two Bulls, and that is concerning.
Thus, Patrick steps forward with the question in everyone’s mind and puts the team in the hot seat.
Danica Patrick questions Ferrari promises
Reporting for Sky Sports during the Miami GP weekend, Danica Patrick reflected on the downfall of the Prancing Horses. Looking at all the prim and proper statements the team gives to the media, Patrick asks the age-old question. “Carlos said they’re in a learning process, but, I wonder what they’re learning?”
A blow to the already downbeat team, the punches keep coming from Patrick. “I feel like they feel very confused.” Examining Leclerc’s comments about the car being a tricky car to drive.
Thus, they only have a small window to operate in. As the former IndyCar driver explained, “[Leclerc] said a small window. There’s just no room for errors.”
And that’s why qualifying went so horribly wrong for Charles Leclerc, who ended his session in the barriers. “There it was, the small window… the window is just so so tiny and they just got to figure out how to get the tires to work better so that they can use it and be able to have some margin of error, a bigger window and a better race.”
Thus, all eyes are on Ferrari. While last year the car was great, the team messed up strategies and missed out on the title. This time, it’s the other way around. So, hopefully, the pieces fall back into place for the team in Red, because as Sebastian Vettel said, everyone is a Ferrari fan. And the world awaits the day the championship returns to Maranello.
