Reuters
Formula One F1 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar – November 19, 2021 Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar – November 19, 2021 Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Ferrari and McLaren’s 2021 battle reignited their old rivalry. The two powerhouses of the sport are the most successful teams in Formula One. They are battling for P3 in the constructor’s championship in the 2021 season.
McLaren had the early season advantage as the team and Lando Norris started the year exceptionally. But the Italian team was always at their heels as both Ferrari drivers put on consistent performances. When McLaren achieved a 1-2 in Monza, fans thought they were favorites to finish P3.
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But the latest engine upgrade gave Ferrari the decisive advantage in the race. McLaren, since Turkey, has not had an answer for the pace of their rivals. Ferrari is now 39.5 points clear of the Woking-based team and could clinch P3 in Jeddah.
An F1 team can only score a maximum of 44 points in a race weekend. So, with just a maximum of 88 points available in two races, the Woking-based team needs a perfect weekend in Saudi and must hope that Ferrari does not outscore them by more than 4 points to take this battle down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.
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We need to outscore them by four or five points: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz
As reported by Formula1.com, the Spanish driver before the start of the weekend knew Ferrari could clinch P3, but he was not too fussed about the prospect.
Reuters
Formula One F1- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – December 3, 2021, General view of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. in the pit lane during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
“We need to outscore them by four or five points, I think, this weekend, which, looking at recent results, might seem like a likely scenario. But we need to remind ourselves that McLaren have been in the fight in every race that we’ve outscored them.
It’s not like we were on an easy route to outscore them before their trouble in the last three races, so it’s been really tight still; we’ve just managed to make fewer mistakes, put everything together with both cars and outscore them. But I feel like here they might have the faster car and they will bring the fight down to Abu Dhabi, probably.” said Sainz.
Ferrari needs to outscore McLaren by 5 points in the race to finish P3. With Leclerc starting P4 and Norris starting P7, it looks like the advantage is with the Prancing Horses.
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