Mario Andretti offers prediction over potential Ferrari team orders this season

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By George Dagless

Published May 10, 2022

Former Formula 1 world champion Mario Andretti has suggested that Ferrari could start bringing in team orders by the halfway stage of this season

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 20: Race winner Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari (second from right), Second placed Carlos Sainz of Spain and Ferrari (second from left) Third placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes (R) and Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto (L) celebrate on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 20, 2022 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Former Formula 1 world champion Mario Andretti has suggested that Ferrari could start bringing in team orders by the halfway stage of this season.

Charles Leclerc is currently leading the Drivers' standings by 19 points from Max Verstappen, whilst the Monegasque's Scuderia team-mate Carlos Sainz is currently 51 points off of top spot thanks to a couple of DNFs in the Grands Prix in Australia and at Imola.

After five rounds of the 2022 world championship, then, many are suggesting it is already Leclerc v Verstappen for the title but there is still a long way to go, and Sainz will want to try and reel them in and prove he has a title shot this season too.

F1 is a ruthless game, though, and there may well come a time where Ferrari have to think about prioritising one driver over the other, in order to win the Drivers' crown and the Constructors' title.

And, for Andretti, that moment could come at the midpoint of the season, which is about 6 races away:

Andretti said to Sky Italia:

“We know Binotto leaves them free to fight. We will see halfway through the season who’s ahead of the other, then the team-mate has to support the other one.

“But both are very good.

“Carlos had some problems so far, but he knows he has the car. And having two drivers able to win is a good thing for the team.”

IMOLA, ITALY - APRIL 22: Carlos Sainz of Spain driving (55) the Ferrari F1-75 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on April 22, 2022 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Certainly, at the moment both drivers are free to battle one another, as they are at Red Bull, but when the second half of the season is here that may well change.

Sainz has his work cut out to try and get back in the picture, then, but he'll feel that he is due some luck already this season and perhaps when that lands he'll be able to close the gap down on the top two.