Red Mist: Ferrari: not too bad considering the SF-25 is a dog

Considering Ferrari’s miserable season so far, some would say Charles sitting fifth and sixth in the Drivers’ standings is about right. But most go, “Whaat?” when you tell them our Scuderia is currently second in the Constructors’ Championship.

To be honest, even Red Mist was pleasantly surprised to see the Scuderia in that spot when the standings popped up after Sunday’s race. In fact, I rewound just to be sure. I was! Look, McLaren have checked out. It already feels like a done deal at this early stage. Maybe not so much in the Drivers’ standings, but those odds are stretching fast too.

As Tifosi, we cannot help but laugh into our hands watching Red Bull snatch failure from the jaws of success. Time after time. Really, Max? Can you possibly be so daft? You were lucky to get a point, lad. Those clown masks should be on the Red Bull pit wall. Where are the memes, though? Clearly, nobody cares when Red Bull messes it up.

While we’re on the topic, keep it up, Max! One more penalty point and you’re out for a race. Then who will drive your seismic little pureblood? Nobody else can! And Mercedes? Well, George is so far up his own arse that he’s forgotten how to drive. Cue Toto on Sunday for proof of that. I like Kimi, though. But it’s still too early to expect too much from him.

Even if Hadjar is clearly the star rookie in the field. That’s one good thing about such a big grid of greenhorns. Maybe one or two will make it big. So far, the Frenchman is head and shoulders above the rest. The rest of the rookies? Next question!

While we’re warbling on about the rest, was Hulk’s Spanish performance the first real marker of something we should pay more attention to? It’s essentially the Audi under that lurid green skin. There’s been a major shift for the better under the principal bearer of that old Ferrari clown mask from the memes. Vorsprung, already?

Nico’s pace was brilliant on Sunday. Yes, his Ferrari engine seems to be an advantage that the works team cannot summon in the recalcitrant SF-25. And it must have been painful to watch that bastard vomit-hued machine pass the red thoroughbred in the race. But it was also good to see Lewis smiling after pulling a qualifying cat out of the bag.

Charles has to be happy with his past two rounds. Two podiums and splitting the mighty McLarens at Monaco is a job very well done. Standing up to 'Mad Max' and then laughing him off after their little dance down the main Spanish straight was good to see too. Even if he sulked too much at home.

The long and short of it, however, is that Ferrari scored 61 points in this latest triple-header. Even if Lando scored that many all on his own, and the papaya projectiles racked up 116 between them. But Max botched two of the three races, and that second Red Bull… well, it’s the second Red Bull. And Mercedes capitulated.

Charles and Lewis scored consistently—and pretty well, truth be told. Enough for the Scuderia to leapfrog into second in the standings. It’s a nice place to be. Even makes third and fourth in the Drivers’ chase feel like a distant dream. So come on, Max, score that last penalty point. And Merc? Just keep doing what you always do these days.

Yip, this SF-25 cloud actually has a silver lining. And it’s shining brighter than most would ever believe right now… Forza Ferrari!