BETWEEN INFLATED EXPECTATIONS AND INEVITABLE REALITIES

After every GP, the community of fans and so-called F1 “content creators” finds itself at a crossroads: should they chase sensationalism, or just call things as they are, at the risk of being accused of being “against” someone?

If you’ve been following this blog, you already know which road I take—because in Baku everything seemed to revolve around one concept: expectations.

In the days leading up to the GP, how much content did we see centered around Leclerc? Pole to convert, stats to break, the sense that this might finally be his moment. Yet few stopped to remember that Ferrari is having a complicated season, far from the dream many wish for. So for the average fan, watching the race without analyzing every technical detail—what could they really expect?

The same pattern applied to Norris and Piastri: after practice sessions, with headlines describing the McLaren as a “spaceship,” it was inevitable that fans convinced themselves the drivers would be untouchable. Then Sunday reality told a different story. Add Verstappen to the mix—portrayed as if he were driving a mediocre Red Bull, when in fact he was once again sharp enough to capitalize on every chance. The outcome? Ferrari fans disappointed as if the Scuderia were ever true title contenders, McLaren put under scrutiny, and Max elevated to living miracle status.

And yet, this race didn’t hold many secrets. Saturday had already set the stage. McLaren was never going to dominate, Red Bull was clearly competitive, and Ferrari knew it didn’t have the weapons to fight at the top. After the chaos of qualifying, all Max had to do was manage the race. That’s the difference: no mistakes, no excesses—just composure and precision.

Norris wasted a big opportunity, but I wouldn’t condemn him for it. McLaren is still paying for its lack of top speed, and with DRS, overtaking becomes a tall order. In qualifying, what hurt him most was track position: leading the pack, with little room to exploit slipstreams. Looking at his onboard, there weren’t any major mistakes until Turn 15, where he lost half a second—without ending up in the wall like others. In the race, a slow pit stop cost him at least one position as well.

And Ferrari? An endless topic, but one point needs to be made. Does it really make sense to debate the position swap at the end? If Leclerc had ignored the call, would he have stayed ahead anyway? And what if next time there are no team orders—will they waste time fighting and be left with regrets? A vicious cycle.

© Simone Marchetti Cavalieri

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