Put February 14 in your diary. Not to wine and dine with your loved one but to fall in love with Ferrari’s 2023 Formula 1 car. It’s the day that the new Ferrari team boss, Frederic Vasseur, will introduce the Italian’s new car at team HQ, Maranello.
It’s been 15 years since the team last won Formula 1′s Constructors’ Championship and 16 years since Kimi Raikkonen gave Ferrari its last Drivers’ Championship title. But, if the rumour mill is to be believed, the next champion dressed in red could be crowned in 2023.
21LuckyBet Sports
Bet £20 and Get A £40 Free Bet
Terms & Conditions Apply- New UK Licensed Brand
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Decent betting odds
According to the respected Italian website formu1a.uno, the ‘prancing horse’ has a fast car for the year ahead. The publication’s story read: “...the numbers from the Ferrari simulator are extremely positive, with highly qualified sources revealing that the 2023 car is over one second faster than last year’s machine.”
“This is an intriguing estimation from the Maranello camp, considering the 2023 regulations introduce significant variations in terms of overall aerodynamic load.”
Bookmakers Are Undecided
For a change, the F1 bookmakers have not reacted to Ferrari-related gossip and the betting odds of Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, and Carlos Sainz have not changed in their respective markets. Interestingly though, online sportsbooks are struggling to agree.
Whereas BetVictor makes Ferrari 4/1 to win the 2023 Constructors title, Betfred price the team as 13/2 shots. And, at 5/1, bet365 goes the shortest of all firms in the Drivers’ Championship. The 25-year-old Charles Leclerc is 5/1 with Ray Winstone’s favourite bookmaker. However, a much tastier price of 7/1 is available on Leclerc over at BetFred.
Cash is King at Williams
Both Williams’ drivers, Alex Albon and newbie Logan Sargeant can be backed at 2,000/1 to become World Champion in 2023. It is not going to happen, but the perennial backmarker team – finishing last in the Constructors’ championship four times in the past five years – can be expected to improve on the eight World Championship points it garnered in 2022.
This week it came to light the team has had a cash injection of £36 million. But the bigger news is James Vowles move from Mercedes to Williams where he will become team principal. Vowles, 43, joins the struggling Williams team after 12 years at Mercedes – most latterly as Strategy Director – during which time the German team won eight constructors’ titles.
A familiar voice on the Mercedes team radio – giving instructions and encouragement to both of the team’s drivers – Vowles, on announcing his move said: “Williams Racing have placed their faith and trust in me, and I will do the same in return. The team has tremendous potential, and our journey together starts in a matter of weeks.”
Fully versed in what has and still makes the factory Mercedes such a fast car, Vowles has the know-how to turn the Williams’ into a competitive car. It is, after all, powered by a Mercedes engine.
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.