Written by Sofia Costantino, Edited by Simran Kanthi
We are just a few weeks away from the 2023 F1 season, and gossip and speculations have already started to appear on social media where most people can't help but wonder: who will be the 2023 F1 Champion? Could it be the Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr?
With an unfortunate last season for the drivers and the Ferrari team, leaving them in second and fifth, and second places in both drivers' and constructors' championships respectively, it seems to be a whole different perspective given the goodbye to Mattia Binotto and the warm welcome to the new team principal Frederic Vasseur, who has high hopes for the upcoming season. He's determined to win and go above and beyond to achieve the goals and the Tifosi is joyous with his arrival to Maranello and can't help but be hopeful for what's about to come. Fred Vasseur said, “you can't start the season saying I would be happy with P2, that would be a lack of ambition,” and what wise words he said.
Vasseur assumed his position at Ferrari just recently in January, and with his long experience in motorsport, he's been talking about what Tifosi and fans can expect. In recent declarations, he spoke about how people can not expect immediate changes, as he's been there for only one month.
Now, let's talk about the one and only, and perhaps one of the promising drivers for this upcoming season: Carlos Sainz Jr.
The smooth operator - as fans have come to call him - joined Ferrari in 2021 and under Binotto, he was never labelled as the second driver. Sainz is nothing but one of the greatest drivers we will see during the season and this year feels like a breath of fresh air for him and the team.
He made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso back in 2015 and later he moved to Renault. Guess what? During his time there, the team principal was none other than Frederic Vasseur, so they have a small history and it is small because, in that same year, Vasseur moved to Sauber, leaving with a bittersweet memory and eager to work with the Spaniard. As Vasseur expressed, one of the reasons he went to Ferrari is for Carlos Sainz Jr, meaning he's not over with him just yet.
Recent declarations from the team principal show nothing but hope for the driver. He said, “I started the discussion with Carlos when I was at Renault to attract him in 2017. I tried to sign him at Sauber again without success. And I said 'Ok, if I want to attract Carlos, the best way is to join the team where he is.'” This is the most confident and hopeful message for a driver, counting on a team principal that believes in his abilities and strength, a confidence strong enough to join the team where he is to help achieve those goals.
Speaking of the high hopes for the team and the confidence Vasseur has in his drivers, it won't be incorrect to say that Sainz has set his very high sights on this upcoming championship. Given the circumstances of the last one where luck wasn't on his side, we can now see a much-prepared and ready-to-battle driver who is willing to give his best for success. We hope to see the smooth operator from 2021, the consistent driver, and many race wins and podiums for him. He has everything in his power to become the next world champion. A more steady team, a faster car, a unique teammate, and the Tifosi who are supporting him unconditionally. And for us? We can't wait to see what the future beholds.
We believe this season will be much different than the last one, with more competition between Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull, different faces on the podium such as Lando Norris, George Russell, and who knows, a comeback from Fernando Alonso. We can expect more rivalry and drama upon us. With just a few days away from the car launch, we can't wait to give a more detailed analysis of what this season beholds for the motorsport world.
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