David Coulthard has compared Charles Leclerc’s stellar start to the 2022 season with his own Michael Schumacher-dominated era. Fellow former F1 driver Marc Surer also sees the hand of great Ferrari designer Rory Byrne, whose consultancy contract has just been extended. The Ferrari this year has similar characteristics to the Schumacher Ferraris – fast everywhere and in all conditions, great traction and always getting the best from the tyres. F1 legend Gerhard Berger thinks Byrne’s influence may have helped Ferrari to minimise the downsides of the ground effect ‘porpoising’ that has caught out many other teams. “In his own way, Byrne is just as much a genius as Newey,” he said. “Byrne is a guarantee that Ferrari will remain at the top level throughout the season,” concluded Berger.

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