After an exciting start and two victories, Ferrari seemed poised for great things, but after the latest updates in Spain, the SF-24 “stopped working as it did at the beginning of the year.” This marked the beginning of a series of internal changes within the team, with departures and new arrivals that have turned the situation around at Maranello. Ahead of the Dutch GP, Leclerc did not hold back on the update issue and shared his thoughts on the effects of Cardile’s departure from Ferrari’s Technical Directorate.
Three weeks after Spa-Francorchamps, it’s time to get back on track to conclude the 2024 Formula 1 season. This championship has been one of the most thrilling in the modern history of the sport, with four teams battling for victories on various weekends.
Just over a month ago, Enrico Cardile and Ferrari parted ways after years of collaboration. The Italian technician later announced his new direction, which is Aston Martin, where he will serve as chief technical officer. Enrico Cardile’s departure has not been a positive one for Ferrari, as the SF-24 single-seater has been in a slow decline since the Spanish Grand Prix.
With Ferrari set to announce the new technical director in the near future, Charles Leclerc commented on the upcoming updates. These updates, traditionally for Ferrari, seem not to work when introduced after the summer break. Despite this “tradition,” Charles Leclerc remains undeterred and believes in the work of the Maranello team.
A Complex Knot Between the Technical Director and Updates
“I don’t think it’s a trend that sees us struggling with development. However, recently we’ve encountered several problems. For some races, we’ve had bouncing issues, which we are starting to resolve. However, we hope that the upcoming updates can help a bit. This aspect, along with other characteristics we’ve seen, makes us a bit weaker compared to others.”
Indeed, Ferrari seems to have identified the elements that trigger bouncing and limit the performance of the SF-24. Mechanical and aerodynamic corrections are expected in the coming weekends to improve Ferrari’s fortunes and lay the groundwork for the 677 (2025).
Continuing development won’t be easy, as Ferrari will have to transition to a new technical director following Enrico Cardile’s departure. Charles Leclerc commented on this, leaving little room for interpretation regarding whether they’ll need to change their approach with the new technical director.
“Since Enrico left, there have also been three weeks of vacation, so it’s still difficult to see the change. At the same time, as we’ve always said in the past, we don’t rely on just one person. In a team like Ferrari, there’s a lot of inertia. And for us, for now, everything has been very clearly defined regarding the team’s objectives. So not much changes in terms of our short-term goals.”- the Monegasque driver pointed out ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
The announcement of the new technical leader of the Maranello team is drawing closer. Especially after Fred Vasseur, responding to a question during the press conference in Hungary, stated, “I have a couple of names with 5 letters” when asked about the importance of the new technical director. Speculation has run wild, and the roles to be filled in Ferrari’s new management are varied, with Loic Serra and Jerome D’Ambrosio being crucial for Fred Vasseur’s new Ferrari. Could the new addition have ties with Lewis Hamilton and a five-letter surname? After all, the suggestion from Ferrari’s red past and their technical expertise could be key in Ferrari’s revival.
Source: f1ingenerale
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