F1 Standings: How Ferrari can launch up constructor standings this weekend

Ferrari has a great chance this weekend at Azerbaijan to launch itself up the F1 standings.

Ferrari became the only team other than Red Bull to nab a pole position this year when Charles Leclerc finished with the best time in qualifying on Friday.

It represents a possible turnaround for Ferrari if they can take advantage because the two teams ahead of them have one car each starting outside of the points. If Ferrari can even simply hold their starting positions and avoid carnage at the red flag-happy Azerbaijan, they can do really well in the standings and launch themselves into a fortuitous spot following the April break.

F1 Constructor Standings if Ferrari wins sprint and Grand Prix in Azerbaijan

Here is how the standings look coming into the weekend:

1. Red Bull Racing: 123 points
2. Aston Martin: 65 points
3. Mercedes: 56 points
4. Ferrari: 26 points

Sprints races have points on the line, and the qualifying results on Friday are used for both the sprint and Sunday’s GP. Ferrari currently has 26 points, Red Bull has 123. If they can hold first and fourth this weekend, with Red Bull coming in between the two red cars, their gap will close on first from a 97-point deficit to 93.

In this hypothetical where the entire race position holds for the sprint and the Grand Prix (extremely unlikely!), Ferrari would add 50 points to its total, which would launch it above Mercedes and Aston Martin with 76 points in total.

Right now, Aston Martin is in second with 65 points. It would end the weekend with 74 points in this hypothetical. Mercedes has 56 coming into the weekend and would leave with 68.

That would put the standings like this:

1. Red Bull Racing: 169 points
2. Ferrari: 76 points
3. Aston Martin: 74 points
4. Mercedes: 68 points

This outcome makes a lot of bold assumptions. Firstly, it assumes George Russell and Lance Stroll both won’t make it into the points by the end of the day. That’s hard to see happening. It also assumes Ferrari won’t shoot itself in the foot. That’s hard to see happening, too.

Finally, it’s most difficult to see anyone but Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez taking the No. 1 spot in a lengthy race. Qualifying is one thing, but a long race where Red Bull clearly has the fastest car is another.

Still, it shows how this early in the year, one great weekend from a team would be enough to completely change the tide.