Why Ferrari is struggling and how it can turn its F1 fortunes around

Three races into the F1 season and Ferrari is already languishing almost 100 points behind all-conquering Red Bull in the constructors' standings. But, despite new boss Fred Vasseur's reign having a difficult start, there are still a few reasons for optimism

Jake Boxall-Legge Apr 27, 2023, 10:37 AM

It was all smiles at Ferrari's pre-season launch event at Fiorano. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz exuded a quiet confidence and ease on the day that the SF-23 was revealed to the world, while new team principal Fred Vasseur was equally assured in his first public event with the squad.

There were plenty of reasons to be optimistic within the confines of its Maranello headquarters. A lean period, instigated by the FIA's investigation of Ferrari's power unit design that resulted in many of its horses bolting, proved to be finally over and the team had enacted a recovery for 2022. Although the season exposed many of the squad's weaknesses, new leadership would surely help Ferrari to challenge Red Bull on a much more consistent basis, particularly after its charge last year tailed off.

Share Or Save This Story

Author Jake Boxall-Legge

Jake Boxall-Legge Autosport’s Technical Editor. Having studied Automotive Engineering with Motorsport at the University of Hertfordshire, West Country-born Jake's original ambition was to design racing cars. During a year between studies in which he accidentally rekindled a love of writing, he took up a Master's in Motorsport Engineering at Oxford Brookes. Halfway through his master's year, he was offered a place on the Autosport Academy, conducting occasional freelance duties before becoming the press officer for Formula 2 and GP3 in 2018. Autosport offered him a return to the fold later that year to serve as its Technical Editor. His voice appears on a number of videos and podcasts, and can often be found writing about terrible Formula 1 cars in excruciating detail. In his spare time, Jake enjoys baking and blames his failure to make it past the Great British Bake-Off interviews on his tenuous grasp on choux pastry. His dream is to open a brunch cafe - and his willingness to make outrageous puns in inappropriate situations has earned him the contempt of his colleagues.