According to speculation coming directly out of Italy, Ferrari are set to come out firing in 2023, with a car that is set to be “at least” one second faster than it was last season.
Italy’s Formu1a.uno are reporting that Ferrari have made huge gains with their 2023 challenger, with sources within the team having revealed that the simulations are looking very promising.
The team’s 2023 car – dubbed project 675 – really is looking set to be Ferrari’s best bet potentially at claiming a first World Championship since 2008; however, the same was being said prior to last season.
Ferrari’s 2022 challenger was exceptional, with Charles Leclerc having won two of the opening three races.
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After starting the season with such domination, Leclerc and Ferrari were quickly hailed as the title favourites, something that clearly got the better of them.
Given how long it’s been since Ferrari were in a position of having the best car on the grid, the pressure somewhat understandably got the better of the Maranello-based team.
Ferrari blunders were a regular occurrence from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix onwards, with the side having endured reliability problems, driver errors, and strategic mistakes.
Everything that went wrong last season ended up costing Mattia Binotto his job as team principal, as Ferrari had to watch on helplessly as Red Bull and Max Verstappen cruised to the titles.
Binotto was arguably given a choice, resign, or be fired, with the Italian having chosen the more noble exit.
There is clearly a fire stoking in the stomachs of Ferrari’s employees, with the team having worked incredibly hard over the winter.
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The reports of their 2023 challenger being as fast as it is shouldn’t necessarily come as a huge shock, with the side having reportedly found an additional 30hp after fixing their reliability problems.
With a faster but more reliable engine at the disposal of Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, it will be down to the drivers to deliver the results, especially if they are given the correct tools to do so.
New team principal Frederic Vasseur will likely solve their strategic woes, meaning that the only thing stopping Sainz and Leclerc from being in title contention in 2023, is themselves.