Formula 1: Ferrari already assured of 2022 world titles? What the numbers reveal…

The Scuderia Ferrari has regained its bright red on the first day of spring, March 20. By imposing itself in the desert of Bahrain, the scene of the opening of the 2022 F1 world championship, the team led by Mattia Binotto has put an end to a period of scarcity that began 30 months earlier. His latest success was the work of Sebastian Vettel on September 22, 2019 in Singapore. Two seasons without a win, in Maranello, this had not been seen since the beginning of the 1990s. In the wake of a sluggish 2020 exercise, concluded in 6th position in the general classification, the Prancing Horse had begun its rebirth at a trot, last year, rising to 3rd place in the hierarchy. Now, according to a new technical regulations well assimilatedit arises in reference to the board.

The painful memory of 2010 with Alonso

In the Bahraini night, the Scuderia returned to the spotlight by offering a double gallop, the 3rd victory for Charles Leclerc being accompanied by the 2nd place of his teammate Carlos Sainz. Nevertheless, beware of any hasty triumphalism: the tifosi have not forgotten thatin 2010, Ferrari also launched its season with a double for Sakhirwith Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, before the two world titles fell into the hands of Red Bull.

A double at the 1st GP, synonymous with a title for Ferrari?

Since then, when the Prancing Horse stable succeeds a double at the first Grand Prix of the season, how many times has that resulted in the conquest of one or two titles*? Discover below all the scenarios listed since the birth of the Formula 1 world championship in 1950.

80% success rate

• 2002 Australian GP: double Michael Schumacher / Rubens Barrichello => Ferrari wins the 2 titles (Schumacher champion)
• 2000 Australian GP: double Michael Schumacher / Rubens Barrichello => Ferrari wins the 2 titles (Schumacher champion)
• 1953 Argentine GP: dubbed Alberto Ascari / Luigi Villoresi => Ferrari wins drivers’ title (Ascari champion) *
• 1952 Swiss GP: Piero Taruffi / Rudi Fischer doubled => Ferrari wins drivers’ title (Ascari champion) *

The exception of 2010

• Bahrain GP 2010: double Fernando Alonso / Felipe Massa => Ferrari does not win any title (2nd among drivers with Alonso and 3rd among manufacturers); Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull are crowned

And for the other stables?

In the five previous doubles signed at the start of a season, Ferrari has only missed the objective of a world title once, in 2010. But what about the other teams? The conclusion is clear: whether it is the Scuderia or another manufacturer, the statistics are similar, namely that in 80% of cases, a double during the first Grand Prix gives rise to the status of world champion at the end of the season. Find the different scenarios in the list below.

79% success rate

• 2019 Australian GP: doubled Valtteri Bottas / Lewis Hamilton => Mercedes wins the 2 titles (Hamilton champion)
• 2016 Australian GP: double Nico Rosberg / Lewis Hamilton => Mercedes wins the 2 titles (Rosberg champion)
• 2015 Australian GP: double Lewis Hamilton / Nico Rosberg => Mercedes wins the 2 titles (Hamilton champion)
• 2009 Australian GP: double Jenson Button / Rubens Barrichello => Brawn GP wins the 2 titles (Button champion)
• 1998 Australian GP: double Mika Häkkinen / David Coulthard => McLaren wins the 2 titles (Häkkinen champion)
• 1996 Australian GP: Damon Hill / Jacques Villeneuve double => Williams wins the 2 titles (Hill champion)
• 1992 South African GP: doubled Nigel Mansell / Riccardo Patrese => Williams wins the 2 titles (Mansell champion)
• United States GP West 1981: double Alan Jones / Carlos Reutemann => Williams only wins the constructors’ title; Nelson Piquet (Brabham) is crowned among the pilots
• 1968 South African GP: double Jim Clark / Graham Hill => Lotus wins the 2 titles (Hill champion)
• 1957 Argentinian GP: double Juan Manuel Fangio / Jean Behra => Maserati wins the drivers’ title (Fangio champion)*
• 1950 British Grand Prix: doubled by Giuseppe Farina / Luigi Fagioli => Alfa Romeo wins drivers’ title (Farina champion) *

3 exceptions in the 1960s

• 1967 South African GP: double Pedro Rodriguez / John Love => Cooper does not win any title (6th among the drivers with Rodriguez** and 3rd among the constructors); Denny Hulme and Brabham are sacred
• 1964 Monaco GP: Graham Hill / Richie Ginther double => BRM does not win any titles (2nd among the drivers with Hill and 2nd among the constructors); John Surtees and Ferrari are crowned
• 1963 Monaco GP: Graham Hill / Richie Ginther double => BRM does not win any titles (2nd among the drivers with Hill and 2nd among the constructors); Jim Clark and Lotus are sacred

*The title of constructors is awarded from 1958

**Pedro Rodriguez only contested 8 of the 11 GPs on the program in 1967

Photo : Icon Sport

More informations :

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