Ferrari President John Elkann has written a letter to shareholders of the Italian supercar brand to speak of his excitement at the present and future of their racing teams.
Elkann took over from Sergio Marchionne after the Italian-Canadian’s tragic death in 2018, but unlike Marchionne and Luca di Motezemolo before him, the 46-year-old has made a point of being an inconspicuous figure in the public eye since his reign began.
Part of this might have been due the ignominy of the 2020 season, during which Ferrari failed to win a race in a full season since 2016, and a winless 2021 meant that, for the first time since 1992/93, they suffered two consecutive dry seasons.
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However, they have begun 2022 exceptionally well, claiming their first win and one-two since 2019 at the Bahrain Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc led Carlos Sainz home, and the pair both got onto the podium in Saudi Arabia behind Max Verstappen.
They are sitting pretty at the top of the Drivers’ Standings, with Leclerc leading by 12 points, while the Scuderia hold a 40-point advantage over Mercedes, who themselves are a single point clear of Red Bull.
After their best start to a season since Sebastian Vettel’s two wins on the trot to begin 2018, there is plenty of reason for Ferrari fans to be optimistic and to once again believe that titles are on the horizon.
Elkann spoke of his pride at having what he believes is the best driver line-up in F1 at present.
“With Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the Scuderia has the best pair of drivers on the starting grid, who have started the season well,” he wrote.
The Ferrari AF Corse team took three wins from the six World Endurance Championship last year as James Calado, who has been at the team since 2014 after reserving for Force India in F1 the year previous, won the title with team-mate Alessandro Pier Guidi.
The Italian-American president is delighted to see success being cultivated across the board by his teams in Maranello.
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“Ferrari’s GT season was the best in its history, thanks to the Drivers and Constructors’ World titles in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” he added.
Ferrari and Red Bull are set to lock horns again as F1 travels to the modified Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne next weekend.