The 2023 Formula 1 season is turning into a nightmare for Ferrari and Charles Leclerc. From high hopes to crushing disappointments, the Prancing Horse seems to have stumbled out of the gate, and the paddock is buzzing with a single question – “What on earth is going wrong at Ferrari?”

After taking the lead on Lap 12 of the 2022 Austrian GP and maintaining it despite several challenges, Leclerc experienced a late-race scare with a sticking throttle pedal. Despite this, Charles Leclerc victoriously overcame Max Verstappen, preventing Verstappen from achieving a third consecutive win at the Red Bull Ring. After the showcase of such a dominant force, fans are afraid of what might be.

Austria ’22 was also not worry-free for Leclerc since the car suffered a mechanical problem. Then Leclerc started the 2023 season on an unfortunate note, as his Ferrari dramatically stopped on track during the closing stages of the Bahrain Grand Prix, leaving him empty-handed and the team’s championship hopes with an early dent. The prospect of a dismal season ahead has started to sink in, not just for Leclerc, but for the entire Ferrari camp.

Ferrari’s 2023 season has been a dramatic downhill from the start. After boasting of the fastest single-seater ever designed and fixing their engine reliability issues, the team promised a championship contention. Instead, the Scuderia finds itself questioning where it all went wrong as their title hopes seem to be fading away with each passing race and strategic mishap.

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Ferrari’s fans, once hopeful, are now filled with disappointment and frustration as the team’s performance continues to falter. But where does the root of the problem lie?

Fans react to another probable month of heartbreaking races for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari

After a disappointing 2022, Ferrari’s new team boss, Fred Vasseur, was unable to work his magic, despite a significant overhaul of team personnel. However, the Scuderia’s most significant challenge was something it didn’t foresee – severe reliability issues that have had a domino effect on the team’s performance.

The team’s reliability issues, notably the Control Electronic issue that ended Leclerc’s Bahrain Grand Prix prematurely, have been a significant setback. Moreover, these issues have extended to Ferrari’s customer teams, Haas and Alfa Romeo, adding to the team’s woes. As Helmut Marko rightly pointed out, what’s the point of having the most powerful engine if it isn’t reliable?​

Fans are not happy or should we say they’re traumatized. After a haphazard 2023 season for both the team and Leclerc, fans are coming to a daunting realization. July ’23 will have four race weekends and that’s making the fans anxious because Ferrari has let them down a lot if the reaction tweets are to be believed.

As the season continues, Ferrari’s performance continues to be a matter of concern for its fans and the F1 fraternity. With the SF-23 lacking in drivability, cornering speed, straight-line speed, and reliability, and Leclerc lamenting the disastrous start to the season, it’s a dark cloud that hangs over the Maranello headquarters.

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However, as the old adage goes, it’s darkest before dawn, and all eyes are on Ferrari and Leclerc, hoping for a reversal of fortune. For now, the prancing horse is faltering, but only time will tell if it can regain its stride and gallop towards glory once again.