Red Mist: Ferrari must take heart from Lionel Messi and Argentina in the World Cup!

Leading two to nothing in the 78th minute, things became, well, Messi for Egypt. For those who missed it, Argentina scored three times in eleven minutes thanks to three brilliant goals by Cristian Romero, Messi, and that final, fatal Fernández header.

So what has this to do with Ferrari and Formula 1? Well, quite a bit, actually. After Monaco, wunderkind Andrea Kimi Antonelli commanded a 90-point championship advantage over Lewis Hamilton. And Mercedes led Ferrari by 100 points just a week ago.

Kimi’s five consecutive wins had most of the opposition, and the rest of us wiping the proverbial slate from our eyes. Just as much as Mercedes’ blinding domination did. But roll the ball a few races on to Silverstone last weekend, and now it all looks pretty different.

Antonelli’s advantage has shrunk to just 25 points. A single race win. Over teammate Russell. Lucky that. If it were not for Formula 1’s latest, pathetic handling of a late-race caution, it should have been Hamilton second. But that swing gifted George.

And Ferrari has whittled the maker's deficit back to 78 points. In spite of crap team outings in Monaco and Austria. But the point is, if an Argentinian and an old man like Messi can come back in soccer, surely Ferrari and old Lewis can do the same in F1…

There’s a lot more to it than that, however. Lewis has been peerless the past few races. First he carried the pre-ADUO Cavallino on his back. And he’s consistently been there or thereabouts since. Maybe not consistently enough.

This yo-yo thing must end. That the Ferrari got lost between fighting for the sprint pole on Friday and the real thing on Saturday remains of great concern. Its deeper than that – Austria was another red light. But now that Charles has finally found form, he must keep it.

If Ferrari can just find that consistency as it finally hones this revolutionary SF-26 in, then Formula 1 may very well have a new leader. Sure, there’s work to do. But if Argentina can do it, so can Ferrari. Forza!