Ferrari and Formula 1 go hand in hand. The Scuderia is the most successful team in the sport, having competed in F1 since the inaugural season in 1950. The Italian constructor holds a total of 31 championship titles. However, the team has seen better days in over a decade of competing. The last time Ferrari won a title was a Constructors’ Championship in 2008 while the last driver who scored a Drivers’ Championship for the team was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.

Before the 2023 F1 campaign takes off, NitroBetting takes a closer look at the Scuderia ahead of testing and the opening race in Bahrain.

Ferrari Aims to Return to Glory in the 2023 F1 season

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A competent driver duo

Charles Leclerc had a successful upbringing in the sport. He came from GP3 and eventually won the F2 championship in 2018. The Monegasque started his career in Formula 1 alongside Alfa Romeo before long-time backers Ferrari opened up a seat for him at Maranello. We saw Leclerc score his first Formula 1 victory at the Belgian Grand Prix, followed by a Monza victory during the 2019 season. This cemented his place in the Italian constructor, and was offered a long-term contract.

However, Ferrari is not without its quirks. A difficult year followed for the Maranello-based team in 2020 and 2021. Carlos Sainz stepped in for a departing Sebastian Vettel, and it was not until 2022 and the introduction of the next generation of cars that Leclerc could work his way back up the field.

Former Red Bull and McLaren driver Carlos Sainz had to thread the needle as soon as the new regulations came in. The Spaniard eventually recovered and picked up pace in 2023 despite a massive drop in confidence following crashes and mechanical failures. If Ferrari can provide him with a reliable car, we know he has the skill to produce neck-and-neck skirmishes with the frontrunners.

Turn over a new leaf

February’s testing session is a big deal for Ferrari. This puts the latest car updates to the test and a chance to fine-tune its performance before Bahrain. We know that they have the speed. That box is ticked. But, the main gripe with the constructor came by way of strategy. Criticism of how Binotto played his cards during a race grew larger. With him out of the picture, the team principal duties now fall on the former Alfa Romeo boss’ lap Frederic Vasseur. He is in charge of getting Ferrari back in line for a more exciting title battle this year.

Strategic blunders were one too many during Ferarri’s 2022 run. Leclerc’s disappointment in Monaco and a questionable hard tire call in Hungary, car issues that forced him to retire two in three races, and driver error did most of the damage. That said, Ferrari will need to learn from the previous lessons and dispiriting experienced to complement a strong driver duo and an efficiently run group of professionals come March.

It remains to be seen whether Vasseur introduces answers to Ferrari’s problems. If he brings everything together through the management style we witnessed him deliver in Alfa Romeo, there’s always a good chance we see Ferrari putting pressure on Red Bull and the rest of the grid.

Where to Bet on F1 with Crypto

Formula 1 features a continuously growing betting market for veteran and novice punters. Motorsport lovers will get a kick out of our F1 odds selection, which features Drivers and Constructors’ Championship futures and outright winners of each Grand Prix.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more Formula 1 previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest sports betting odds at our crypto sportsbook.