Ferrari finishes 3rd in Japan in a race heavily conditioned by adverse rainy weather.

Suzuka is one of the most exciting grand prix in the motorsport. Complex, technical: drivers are called to push their best performances.

Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t as exciting as the prospect of the race. The circus entered this race with the possibility for Red Bull and Max Verstappen to close any discussion and retain the championship crown for the 2022 season.

Looking beyond Japan: 2023

Regardless, Ferrari is building already to return to the 2023 season even stronger. Despite few issues related to car reliability and strategy, the overall season has been a positive turnaround from the past seven seasons.

Ferrari is back competing for championship. This is where we belong.

Wrapping up the season, Ferrari was able to reconstruct reputation and placement, while gaining a winning mentality among the team, which is hoped to be mastered and continue the next season.

It is worth mentioning that Red Bull and Christian Horner have quite the experience baggage of wins and championship, which forged team and drivers to best compete as per strategy and team level.

Race Outtakes

It seems fair to say this season is already on the books, Binotto was announced to stay in Maranello supervising the R&D for the 2023 car.

Speaking of which, R&D and cost cap have been clouding under Red Bull and Aston Martin Racing Team, with the two teams going above the expense limit allowed by FIA.

While the whole Formula 1 world is waiting for disciplinary sanctions, it is discouraging that little to no action could produce a negative reaction around the motorsport’s world.

Especially considering Formula 1 being very much attentive to regulations in respect of sustainability and competitiveness, in which the budget cost cap plays a key role.

More a Sprint Race

It was about two hours after that Race Control gave green light to the start of the race.

A red flag after two laps was shown, drivers going with no visibility, many cars spinning out the track, aquaplaning: weather was too averse to continue. One of those was Carlos Sainz, out at lap 2 after losing steering control due aquaplaning.

Little note on the great start from Leclerc on Verstappen, where the Monegasque almost kept the lead, but Red Bull again looked to be stronger even in rainy conditions.

The rest of the race was another showing of Red Bull’s tire management superiority on Ferrari, with the last lap Checo Perez able to reduce the gap from Leclerc, finished 2nd but served a penalty post-race for cutting through after a break blockage at the very last turns of the race.

Race control penalizing Leclerc with five second, meant Perez getting 2nd position and Leclerc 3rd.

Max Verstappen was later confirmed 2022 champion post Leclerc’s penalty.