Dubai: Exactly a year ago, Fiat Chrysler chief executive and Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne stood numb while admitting that his glamour outfit had failed to deliver. The Italian boss went on to detail the various possible reasons for the marque’s failure — something that was well documented and debated even further.
That aside, Marchionne showed resolve towards a better and purposeful resolve that would ultimately evolve into another crown for the Italians in 2017. “I think we failed the targets, I don’t think there’s a doubt in my mind,” Marchionne candidly admitted a year back.
However, what happened during the 2016 season will be remembered. The starting grid expanded to 22 cars with the addition of the Haas team, while Renault returned to the sport as a constructor after a four-year absence following their takeover of Lotus before the start of the season. Additionally, the German Grand Prix made a return, the European Grand Prix was revived with the event making a new destination with the Baku Grand Prix in Azerbaijan.
More importantly, Nico Rosberg won his first, and last, Drivers’ Championship title in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi when he ended behind teammate Lewis Hamilton. A mere five points separated the two teammates, but those five were just enough for the German to follow in the footsteps of his father, who won the world crown in 1982, while also making him only the second son of a champion to become champion himself — a feat previously achieved by Damon Hill.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes successfully defended their title for the second consecutive year, beating Red Bull Racing by a whopping 297 points. Perhaps, more importantly Scuderia Ferrari finished third overall, a further 70 points adrift.
Recap 2017 and Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari challenger Sebastian Vettel managed to divide the spoils till one-third of the season turned around with the Canadian Grand Prix. Once the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team landed on European soil there was no catching them as Hamilton went on to win six of the next seven races starting off with his home Grand Prix at Silverstone until the United States Grand Prix, by which time the British driver had safely secured a fourth World Drivers’ Championship.
Winners of three races each after six rounds, Vettel won last week’s Brazilian Grand Prix, perhaps a little too late as Hamilton travels to Abu Dhabi with an unassailable tally of 345 points and the German 43 points behind in second and Mercedes’ second driver Valtteri Bottas in third with 280 points.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes cemented their fourth consecutive title at the United States Grand Prix as they enjoy the top spot once again with 625 points, while the Ferrari reds are second with 495 points followed by Red Bull Racing in third with 358 points.
So what exactly has been different in the Ferrari camp since the past 12 months? The Italian set-up, led by Marchionne have one final race in Abu Dhabi followed by pre-season testing to find out and make amends.
