Ferrari Faces Urgent Wake-Up Call After Baku Catastrophe: Guenther Steiner Sounds Alarm
In a shocking turn of events at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ferrari has suffered a major setback in its bid for the F1 constructors’ championship, allowing Mercedes to surge ahead in the race for second place. Following a disastrous performance in Baku, former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has issued a stark warning to the Scuderia: they must “wake-up” if they hope to reclaim their competitive edge.
Despite Charles Leclerc’s remarkable streak of securing pole position at the Baku City Circuit for four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024, the race unfolded into a nightmare for the iconic Italian team. What began as a promising start with a one-two finish on the opening day quickly spiraled into chaos during qualifying. The situation reached a boiling point when Leclerc crashed at Turn 15 early in Q3, relegating him to a dismal 10th place on the starting grid, with Lewis Hamilton just behind in 12th.
Race day brought no relief for Ferrari fans, as both drivers struggled to make headway. Hamilton crossed the finish line in eighth, a mere one spot ahead of Leclerc in ninth. Ironically, the race strategy should have seen Leclerc gain the upper hand, as Hamilton was instructed to allow him to pass due to Leclerc’s fresher tires. However, the seven-time world champion’s failure to execute this plan left both drivers trailing behind competitors like Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson.
The fallout from this lackluster performance has been severe. With Mercedes placing both cars in the top four, Ferrari has slipped to third in the constructors’ standings and is in dire need of a turnaround. Steiner didn’t hold back in his criticism during a recent appearance on the Red Flags podcast, declaring Ferrari as the “loser” of the weekend. He pointedly remarked, “I think we have to give the loser [award] this time to Ferrari, because eighth and ninth, beaten by Racing Bulls, beaten by Williams. The mess, not to let Charles past at the end, Lewis falling asleep to let him by because he was focused on something else.”
Steiner’s call to action is clear: Ferrari must regroup and refocus if they intend to reclaim their former glory in the championship race. “They need to wake up, because if they want to finish second in a championship, like this it’s not going to happen. So at the moment, they’re not second anymore,” he emphasized.
As the F1 world watches closely, the pressure is on Ferrari to rise from the ashes of their Baku disaster and prove that they can still compete at the highest level. Will the Scuderia heed Steiner’s warning and reclaim their place among the elite, or will they continue to falter in the face of fierce competition? The next races will be crucial in determining their fate in this thrilling season.
