The first part of Ferrari’s 2024 Formula 1 season has been full of ups and downs. The Maranello team managed to close the gap to the seemingly untouchable Red Bull at the start of the year and was undeniably the second strongest team in the early stages of this championship, which initially appeared to be a one-sided affair in favor of the Milton Keynes team. However, fortunately, the events have proven most Formula 1 observers wrong.
McLaren has made a remarkable comeback in some respects, with the MCL38 being the best car in recent races. Mercedes has also made a significant leap forward, which is incredible considering the enormous difficulties they faced at the beginning of the season when they even struggled to keep pace with Aston Martin in certain circumstances.
Who has disappointed in recent races, at different times, and it seems crazy to say, are precisely Red Bull and Ferrari: we’ll discuss the Maranello team shortly, but a brief mention of what the reigning world champion team has done is necessary. The technical crisis that began in May, coincidentally just after the announcement of Adrian Newey’s departure, led the RB20 to drop to being the fourth-best team in Belgium or, at least, to compete for the third spot with the red-colored SF-24 single-seater.
he constructors’ championship for Max Verstappen and company is truly at risk, especially because Sergio Perez’s performances continue to be poor. After weeks of rumors, unexpectedly, the Mexican driver was confirmed for the final part of the 2024 Formula 1 championship, while it was thought that after the summer break, Daniel Ricciardo might take the seat in the second Red Bull.
Returning to Ferrari matters, the SF-24 declined in terms of performance following the introduction of the Barcelona aerodynamic update package, which, at this point, seems to have been a setback. It was salvaged with a correction to the floor that seems to have provided some positive results, but the performance compared to McLaren and, surprisingly, Mercedes, is still not up to par. And unfortunately it is something that we will very likely see again this weekend at the 4.259-kilometre Circuit Zandvoort in the Dutch Grand Prix. After nearly a month off from racing and several weeks of factory shutdown, Scuderia Ferrari believes they will need to defend themselves in the Netherlands, Max Verstappen’s stronghold since the orange track returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021.
The comments of Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, came even before the summer break: they had to grit their teeth on tracks like Spa-Francorchamps and Zandvoort, to then reach a trio of races more favorable to the SF-24 car, namely Monza, Singapore and Baku. The head of the Ferrari pit wall remains optimistic, especially considering the reduced gap to what was previously the reference target, Red Bull.
“The Belgian GP was a clear example,” the Frenchman emphasized. “Mercedes struggled a lot on Friday. When I say ‘struggled,’ I mean they were at the back of the top four teams in the lineup, but in the end, they were only two-tenths behind. When you manage to make adjustments, even small ones, you can recover from seventh or eighth place to win, and Spa proved it.”
Ferrari can certainly count on Charles Leclerc’s talent, who was brilliant in Belgium and deservedly on the podium, even though this result came thanks to George Russell’s disqualification. The Monegasque drove his car masterfully, once again highlighting how, by correcting course a bit, results can be achieved that are more or less up to the situation.
It is clear that Ferrari fans want to compete for the top positions every race weekend, and seeing a car worsen after updates, in a season that started off positively, is certainly not ideal. However, Frederic Vasseur remains undeterred, and as always since taking on the role of Ferrari’s team principal, he places trust in the work done at the factory, maintaining calm without rushing.
“We have to pay attention to every single detail; it’s essential,” said Fred. “In some races, we finish in the same positions as last year, but now we’re no longer 60 seconds behind Verstappen, but 20. This means we have to keep everything under control, avoid overreacting, and focus on the details. I remain positive and confident.”
Frederic Vasseur’s mindset is understandable: it’s important to stay optimistic, especially since the Maranello team seems to have once again taken a positive direction with the latest corrections to the floor. The Ferrari technicians and engineers are now awaiting the next aerodynamic update package, which, though this must be said with caution, should bring the SF-24 back into a competitive range that can challenge those currently ahead, namely Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull.
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