Carlos Sainz Jr. is constantly proving to Ferrari that he is one of the best drivers on the grid. Despite him being replaced next season, the Spaniard has been showcasing swiftness on the track which is making the team start to rethink their decision. While Lewis Hamilton is one of the best drivers ever, with his current form, he looks past his prime.

Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, is in a long contract with Ferrari without any end date, which means he has secured the seat for a while. However, while it was John Elkann’s idea to bring Lewis Hamilton to the team, former sporting director Cesare Fiorio had a few things to say about the Australian Grand Prix.

Did Ferrari make a poor decision about replacing Carlos Sainz Jr?

While the answer to the above question can only be answered with time, Cesare Fiorio had his own opinion about the same. He told Formula Passion, “Sainz was once again the driver who, for now, has led Ferrari to victory in the last two years. I would have thought twice before separating from him.”

Explaining his take on the 7-time world champion he said, “Not that Lewis Hamilton isn’t a great driver, on the contrary, he could bring a great wealth of knowledge to Ferrari, but Sainz is very strong.” Fiorio isn’t the first one to think the same, and the Australian Grand Prix is just showing that maybe putting your money on Lewis Hamilton might not be the best idea. But as we know, the flaw in Mercedes is not the drivers, but the W15.

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But despite the situation at the Silver Arrow, Ferrari is steadily progressing to become another force to be reckoned with. While the season has just started, there is a strong chance that the prancing horses will have the Red Bull worried about the constructors. Although Max Verstappen lost the race due to his brakes catching fire, Carlos Sainz Jr. was already pressuring him hard in the first 4 laps.

Sainz has a lot to prove and so far he is doing an amazing job. No surgery will stop the Spaniard and any setbacks for him are a reason to push harder. However, that’s not all that Fiorio said about his former team.

“Ferrari this year is clearly the second force on the track”–Cesare Fiorio

According to the former Ferrari sporting director, this year, Ferrari is the closest team behind Red Bull on the grid. Ferrari’s primary objective might not be aiming for the Constructors’ title in 2024 due to the significant gap against Red Bull. Fiorio acknowledges that Ferrari is currently the second force on the track behind Red Bull. Compared to 2023, where Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, and Aston Martin alternated, Ferrari has made strides forward. They are now clearly superior to teams like McLaren, Mercedes, and Aston Martin.

Ferrari’s objectives are also influenced by the performance of other teams. McLaren’s improvement, credited to Andrea Stella’s management, suggests that Ferrari is facing competition not only from Red Bull but also from resurgent teams like McLaren. Moreover, the decline of Mercedes, once a dominant force, to a “fourth-rate team” further shapes Ferrari’s strategic outlook. Ferrari may capitalize on the weaknesses of Mercedes to strengthen its position.

This makes it clear that the grid has Ferrari closely creeping in on Red Bull, and with that sad, do you think Ferrari has a shot at the championship this year? Let us know your comments below.

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