As Formula 1 returns to the venue of Ferrari’s last victory this weekend, Carlos Sainz, the Spanish driver for Scuderia Ferrari, acknowledges the ongoing dominance of Red Bull Racing. Red Bull has secured almost all the race wins since Sainz’s maiden Formula 1 victory at the British Grand Prix in July last year. Their only defeat came at the hands of Mercedes driver George Russell’s triumph at Interlagos.
Sainz admits that Ferrari, too, has fallen behind the pace, as the team has struggled to keep up with the relentless performance of Red Bull. While Ferrari began the previous season on equal terms with their rivals, the start of the 2023 campaign has shown a significant gap between Red Bull’s RB19 and the rest of the field. Ferrari, along with other teams, is working tirelessly to close the gap and challenge the dominant Red Bull team, which has claimed victory in all eight races so far this season.
The Scuderia underwent changes behind the scenes with the appointment of Fred Vasseur as team principal during the winter. However, Sainz acknowledges that since Ferrari’s last win nearly a year ago, Red Bull has been “killing everyone” in their path. When reminded that it has been almost a year since Ferrari’s last triumph, Sainz humorously referenced his fiery power unit failure in Austria in 2022.
Reflecting on the challenges faced by Ferrari, Sainz recognizes that there was a dip in their race pace towards the end of last season, which carried over into this year. The team is currently at a turning point, striving to regain competitiveness and return to the top of the podium. However, Sainz acknowledges the difficulty of the task, given Red Bull’s dominance.
Red Bull’s success has not only affected Ferrari but has also impacted other teams like Mercedes. Sainz believes it is now up to Ferrari to reverse the situation and make their car competitive once again. The team is determined to give their best and strive for victory, despite the formidable challenge posed by Red Bull.
As Ferrari continues its efforts to bridge the gap and return to winning ways, fans eagerly anticipate an intense battle between the dominant Red Bull team and the historic Italian marque. The upcoming races will reveal whether Ferrari can reclaim their former glory and challenge Red Bull’s dominance in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.
