Ferrari’s Monaco Hope: Will the 588-Day Longing End?

Scuderia Ferrari, one of the most successful teams in Formula 1 history, has longed for the championship for a long time. While the Italian team experienced its last victory in the drivers’ championship with Kimi Räikkönen in 2007, it reached its last happy ending in the constructors’ championship in 2008. However, Ferrari’s wait is not limited to championships.

The red team took its last Grand Prix victory in Formula 1 exactly 19 months ago. As of the Monaco Grand Prix, Ferrari’s time without winning a race will reach 588 days. Considering the performance of the season so far, one of the team’s biggest opportunities may be in Monaco.

As Ferrari pilots stated at the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, the Monaco track, which stands out with its narrow and technical structure, is seen as more suitable for the strengths of the SF-26. Therefore, all eyes are now on the Monaco Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious races of the season.

Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari’s last world champion, also made hopeful statements about the team. Speaking to Quotidiano Sportivo, the Finnish pilot said, “When I left Ferrari at the end of 2018, I wished that the team would produce a new world champion in a short time. This has not happened yet, but when I look from afar, I see positive signs.”

Räikkönen showed Max Verstappen as the most remarkable name in today’s Formula 1 world. He commented on the Dutch driver: “I think he is the strongest driver at the moment. I saw him come to Formula 1 in my second term at Ferrari. He won his first race victory in front of me in the 2016 Spanish GP. That day, I realized that a new star was born.”

On the other hand, Räikkönen’s son Robin, born in 2015, also started to step into the world of karting. Regarding his son’s interest in motorsports, the experienced pilot said, “He is just having fun right now. Time will tell whether this will turn into a professional career in the future. I am not putting pressure on him.”