Italian media fear Verstappen-Red Bull pairing: 'A blow for Ferrari'

After the Belgian Grand Prix all hopes of a world title for Ferrari or one of its drivers seem to have been dashed. The Italian media criticise the Maranello team and look forward to the future.

Ferrari lets fans believe in world title

In the run-up to the 2022 Formula 1 season, Ferrari was considered one of the favourites. Unlike Red Bull Racing and Mercedes, they had started work on the car for this season much earlier and therefore should have had an advantage. This proved to be the case in Bahrain, when Charles Leclerc drove straight to victory.

"Ferrari did not “have to” win the 2022 World Championship given the last two previous years; however, the sparkling start to the season had led more than one fan to cultivate the dream of seeing the Drivers' title again in Maranello after 15 years (Raikkonen 2007)," La Gazzetta dello Sport read on Monday morning. "Instead, the blow from Spa-Francorchamps effectively puts an end to any reasoning on the chances of the title."

However, the Italian magazine is not only concerned about 2022 but also about the future. Since the rules will remain unchanged until 2025, Gazzetta predicts a future in which the Red Bull-Verstappen combination will dominate. ''The Red Bull-Max Verstappen duo is likely to open a cycle at the level of the recent Mercedes-Hamilton: against the Dutchman and Horner's team they can be lost with honour (and Ferrari even managed to beat them this year). In this, then, Ferrari may have missed the boat.

Lightness in Italy

Sky Sports Italia is at least as critical of Italian pride. Ferrari had particular problems with the heat and the resulting tyre wear. "If it was just a track effect, we will find out in a few days. On the contrary, the awakening will really be even more bitter."

F1sport.it describes the world title race for Charles Leclerc as a huge mountain. The Italian media does not rule out the possibility of a title, but says that Verstappen seems destined to win his second consecutive world title. Ferrari's strategy was also criticised again, after Leclerc was again disadvantaged by his own team and lost points as a result.

''Ferrari flies to Holland with the only consolation of Sainz's podium: author of a good performance, especially in the finale when he had to defend himself from the return of George Russell's Mercedes. But with serious reflections to do, for such a clear inferiority towards rivals that had never been seen in the season," reads Il Fatto Quotidiano. There seems to be a certain resignation in the Italian media, which has replaced irritation and anger. This is not a good sign for Ferrari.