Former 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg recently pointed out that operational errors continue to sabotage Maranello’s efforts on track despite displaying impressive single-lap and race pace. McLaren currently sits ahead in third position, having built a 52-point advantage over their Italian rivals after outscoring them across the previous four events. With nine Grand Prix meetings left on the calendar, the Italian squad also trails constructors’ leaders Mercedes by a daunting 145 points. Appearing on The F1 Show podcast, Rosberg argued that strategic missteps remain the primary obstacle hindering the team’s ability to challenge consistently at the front.
Analysing the squad’s persistent flaws, Rosberg questioned whether structural issues remain unfixed within their garage operations. “Isn’t it the case that Ferrari always have messy weekends?” asked the 2016 world champion. He elaborated on their recurring operational difficulties: “It’s just that Achilles’ heel is still in the strategy area, communication area. That’s always been a weakness and still is a weakness of theirs now.”
The former champion noted that sheer machinery performance is rarely the limiting factor for the Scuderia. “Because the pace of the car is close – it’s damn close to being able to challenge consistency for race wins,” Rosberg explained. Referencing the recent event in Spain, he added: “And even now [in Madrid], let’s not forget, Lewis would have in a comfortable second position in the race. He would have finished second after Max [Verstappen] had to let him through. He would have definitely finished second place behind Kimi quite easily.” Rosberg concluded that operational refinement remains critical: “They’re very close. They’re just not putting it together properly. And they really need to somehow make progress on that. That’s the main problem they’re facing.”
These ongoing operational hurdles have severely damaged the Italian outfit’s ambitions of ending an 18-year world title drought. Top point-scorer Lewis Hamilton dropped more than 100 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli following a retirement caused by brake failure in Madrid. Meanwhile, Maranello has captured a solitary top-three finish throughout the past five Grand Prix events, marked only by Charles Leclerc securing second place in Belgium prior to the summer recess. That underwhelming stretch stands in stark contrast to early July, when a victory at the British Grand Prix gave the squad two triumphs over three contests.
Despite these setbacks, the SF-26 chassis has shown flashes of potential, including in Madrid where Hamilton briefly held provisional pole position during early Q3 runs before concluding qualifying in fourth place. As the campaign shifts to the unforgiving street circuit of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, team principal Frederic Vasseur emphasized the necessity of flawless execution. “The last few races have demonstrated that our car can deliver a good level of competitiveness, but they have also highlighted how important it is to put every part of the weekend together,” said the Ferrari team principal. Vasseur noted the distinct demands of the upcoming venue: “Baku is a very specific challenge, where confidence in the car and execution are particularly important.” He added: “It is also a circuit where the weekend can throw up several variables, so we need to stay focused on ourselves, adapt to whatever situations arise and make the most of every opportunity.”
Leave a Reply