Stefano Domenicali does not value Max Verstappen’s significant lead in the 2022 title fight. Charles Leclerc has now had to concede almost 50 points to his Dutch title rival, but the Formula 1 CEO likes to remind fans that not too long ago it was Verstappen who faced an approximately equally large gap. Anything can still happen. For example, Domenicali may even see Mercedes joining Red Bull Racing and Ferrari later this year.
‘After a few races it already seemed over for Verstappen. Now the situation has reversed,” the Italian said in conversation with Standard Sport, quoted by Daily† “The championship is long, we are at about one third of the season,” he emphasizes. Although things are looking very rosy for Verstappen and his Austrian team at the moment, it is of course far from certain that they will also occupy that first place at the end of the year.
Things have gone somewhat wrong at Ferrari in recent weekends, but Domenicali still expects the team from Maranello Red Bull to be able to put the fire to the test in a whole year. “I think we’re going to have a great fight until the end of the season. Charles Leclerc is in top form,” he says. The Monegask has already won two Grands Prix, but is now six races dry.
Domenicali does not discount Mercedes
Domenicali is also not ignoring Mercedes yet, although it now seems that the gap of almost a full second to the other top teams cannot simply be closed. “They are improving,” assures the CEO, who worked for Ferrari for many years. “From the perspective of the sport itself, we hope more teams join that fight at the front.”
“It will depend on the teams’ adjustments to the circuits and how they fit within the budget. Mercedes has won eight world titles and is an incredible team. They will not give up,” he concludes. He expects Toto Wolff to get things back on track. Nevertheless, that 2022 world title is getting further and further out of reach the longer Mercedes neglects to join.
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