Are Ferrari able to win F1 World Championship after dismal Canadian GP for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz | F1 Information

Following a dismal weekend for Ferrari on the Canadian Grand Prix, Sky Sports activities F1 assess whether or not the Italian staff are prepared to finish their title drought.

Ferrari suffered their first double DNF in two years as a surprising lack of tempo was compounded by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz failing to complete the race.

From the excessive of Leclerc’s victory on residence soil in Monaco to energy unit points, errors from staff and driver, plus tyre struggles in Montreal, Ferrari discover themselves scratching their heads forward of the Spanish Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen’s win on the weekend places him 56 factors forward of Leclerc within the drivers’ championship and left Ferrari 48 factors behind Crimson Bull within the constructors’ standings.

Forward of Montreal, Leclerc believed Ferrari may beat Crimson Bull in at the very least one of many championships this 12 months, however these hopes suffered a significant blow throughout the weekend.

If Ferrari are to be taken as severe contenders, whether or not that is this season or not, they can’t afford weekends like this the place virtually all the pieces went incorrect.

Technique and tyre points trigger early qualifying knockout

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was anticipated to swimsuit the traits of the Ferrari automobile, with its fast change of path and skill to experience the kerbs.

Nevertheless, a moist Friday and funky circumstances come qualifying did not play into the Scuderia’s arms. Each drivers safely acquired by the primary a part of qualifying however they had been bumped out in Q2.

Ferrari determined to ship Leclerc and Sainz out on used comfortable tyres to save lots of a brand new set for Q3. This backfired dramatically and left Leclerc in eleventh and Sainz twelfth on the grid.

“The biggest issue was we were so slow. Every time it was dry, we were nowhere and we have to look into it,” Leclerc instructed Sky Sports activities F1.

“Since FP3, we were nowhere. The car feels bad. There is no grip at all. The tyres never felt ready.”

Ferrari used new comfortable tyres initially of Q2 as they thought rain was on its approach. Nevertheless, the monitor developed and different groups with contemporary rubber leapfrogged them and acquired into the highest 10.

Sainz made a mistake on the last nook on his final Q2 run, costing him round three tenths, which was one more reason for his shock elimination.

“If we did everything perfect with the running of the new tyres at the beginning and not the end, and a cleaner last corner, Q3 was possible but the reality is it was too tight,” mentioned Sainz.

“Normally on any other track, running the used at the end, we still would have made Q3 and would be fighting for pole, but when you don’t do these details right, you get found out.”

Extra engine points for Leclerc

Issues did not get any higher within the race as Leclerc suffered an influence unit subject and could not make any progress.

Ferrari tried to resolve Leclerc’s lack of energy, which he described as a brand new subject, throughout a pit cease, and it initially appeared to have labored.

Nevertheless, additionally they gambled on giving him dry tyres as rain started to fall, which they’d then need to swap again a number of laps later because the showers intensified.

The Monegasque driver was quickly lapped by the leaders after which the engine gremlins returned, forcing Ferrari to retire his automobile after 40 of the 70 scheduled laps.

“I was losing 1.2 seconds on the straights which was extremely annoying,” Leclerc mentioned.

“Then I had 10 changes per lap on the different engine switch, which was such a frustrating race because you get overtaken by everyone on the straights.

“In corners we had been quick and I believe the tempo was fairly robust firstly, contemplating issues, however there was nothing we may have accomplished higher with the engine subject.”

It is not the primary time Leclerc’s automobile has skilled engine woes in 2024 after Ferrari dissected an issue along with his new energy unit after the Miami Grand Prix.

One other drawback at Imola prompted Leclerc to make use of a 3rd energy unit and he was additionally given a brand new power retailer and management electronics in Canada, so he is on the verge of grid penalties already for extreme use of energy unit parts.

“Coming into the weekend I said we have to reset every time we come into a new weekend. That’s exactly what we have done,” mentioned Leclerc.

“Whatever happened on the weekend before, you have to reset and cannot rely on the performance of Monaco. We knew it would be tough.

“We most likely had a worse shock than what it was in qualifying and that is the factor we’ve got to take a look at.”

Sainz spins out when preventing for factors

As for Sainz, who earlier within the weekend was the goal of some very public courting by Williams boss James Vowles, he did not have the tempo of his Ferrari team-mate however felt the automobile was starting to return to him because the monitor dried out.

Nevertheless, he suffered entrance wing and flooring injury in an early collision with Valtteri Bottas. Then, when working in tenth, Sainz went vast at Flip Six and spun round, hitting Alex Albon with the rear of his automobile.

“A driver mistake. I started to take some risks because in the dry we were a little bit more competitive and there was a potential to score some points if I took some risk and overtook cars in DRS trains, but I ended up paying the price,” the Spaniard mentioned.

“That’s another sign when you push a bit hard, you are not very confident and the car is not 100 per cent there, you end up paying for it.

“It is fairly disappointing to return from our strongest weekend to our weakest. That is F1 today. We should analyse all the pieces to return again stronger.”

Are Ferrari behind McLaren?

Ignoring their super Monaco weekend, Ferrari have been overwhelmed by McLaren in China, Miami, Imola and now Canada.

They’re 40 factors in entrance of McLaren within the constructors’ championship, nevertheless it’s the Woking-based squad who’ve momentum and the extra versatile automobile.

Ferrari have historically struggled in moist and funky circumstances during the last 10 years in F1, a trait which seems to stay with this 12 months’s automobile.

As F1 heads to Europe in the summertime, there must be loads of sizzling races which is able to assist Ferrari, however they nonetheless look like not fairly able to problem week in, week out, regardless of a large enchancment beneath the management of Frederic Vasseur.

“The most difficult race weekend, I don’t know,” mentioned Vasseur when requested if Canada was his hardest occasion since taking on as staff principal of Ferrari initially of 2023.

“But for sure it was not the best one. Sometimes you have the feeling that everything is going wrong and everything is going against you.

“However that won’t change the method that we’re working as a staff, with the drivers within the good and the unhealthy moments. We are going to maintain the identical method for subsequent weekend and proceed collectively. I am not fearful of this sort of weekend.”

Formula 1 heads back to Europe as the championship moves on to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix and the start of a triple-header. Watch every session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from June 21-23 live on Sky Sports F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime