Ferrari Sees Strong Mercedes Threat in the Future: “Next Year Will Not Be…”

Ferrari started 2022 with a fast car and fell off the pace, as rivals went faster over the year. The Scuderia has been criticized for its strategic mistakes and engine issues. Now with Mercedes catching up and Red Bull already fast, Ferrari might have a hard time in 2023. As team boss, Mattia Binotto expressed his thoughts about their performance and next season’s expectations.

Binotto spoke to Sky regarding their car development relative to Mercedes. He said, “We have seen a very strong Mercedes both in terms of pace and degradation. We have already focused on next year’s car for some time, we stopped developing the 2022 single-seater very early while they continued to bring developments to the United States and Mexico as well.” [translated via Google]

Mattia stated that the development of the F1-75 has been halted months earlier. Thus Mercedes, with its consistent upgrades, has been getting quicker in recent races. He continued on their 2023 expectations, “For this reason, it is not surprising that they have improved and are fast. However, this makes it clear that next year will not be a battle between two teams.”

This doesn’t seem like a bad prediction as the Brackley squad has been quicker at recent races. Both Mercedes drivers potentially have closed the gap to Ferrari and are in the mix for winning against Red Bull more consistently. This was evident at COTA and Mexico. While Ferrari struggled at the high altitude in Mexico City, Mercedes were mostly the main challenger to Red Bull.

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We will have to see if Ferrari can resolve their tire strategy and engine reliability issues that limited them in 2022. They will have to do so if they wish to fight for the 2023 title, which possibly might become a 3-way fight.

Can Ferrari step up in 2023 and avoid its mistakes from this Season?

Ferrari’s 2022 campaign began on a high, setting big hopes in Maranello. All Ferrari fans thought this might be the year the Italian car giant can win the elusive F1 World title for the first time since 2008. Charles Leclerc won races in Bahrain and Australia and they looked supreme.

And then the story of the slide began. Driver errors in Imola and France cost Leclerc potential podiums. While engine blowups in Barcelona and Baku stole two potential wins from the Monegasque. And the tire strategy calls in Monaco, Silverstone, and Budapest! Let’s just say it was a typical Ferrari day at the office at every race since Melbourne.

Leclerc led Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 46 points at the end of the Australian GP. After he crashed at Paul Ricard at the French GP, it was the Dutchman who led Ferrari man by 63 points. While Max sealed the title in Japan, Leclerc is in a close fight with Sergio Perez for 2nd place.

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As this season draws to a close, the Scuderia fans will be hoping (once again) that 2023 will be their year. Nonetheless, it will be a hard task if they are up against both Red Bull and Mercedes. What do you think Ferrari will be at the top of the table next season?