Ferrari becomes serious threat in F1 title battle against McLaren: Zak Brown’s comments. Zak Brown has stated that Ferrari has returned as a serious threat in the title battle.

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, admitted that the Scuderia Ferrari might have returned to the title fight and that it would be wise not to underestimate them by focusing too much on Red Bull.

In recent days, McLaren has faced several discussions. The “failure” at Monza, where they couldn’t secure the victory, sparked a significant debate, especially regarding the status of the drivers (Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri). Monza saw Ferrari re-emerge as a title contender with Charles Leclerc’s win and the new aerodynamic updates brought by the Maranello team.

Zak Brown’s comments
The Maranello team was very close to Red Bull in the first six rounds. After Charles Leclerc’s win in Monaco, they found themselves even closer, but the update package brought to Barcelona did not work as expected. The package was designed to increase the SF-24’s downforce, but it actually worsened performance, putting the car outside its ideal operating window.

The team worked to correct this mistake, and the updates brought to the Italian Grand Prix represented an excellent solution. This new update package is a step forward for the Italian team, not only in terms of performance but also in tire management – as seen at Monza.

Zak Brown said: “They [Ferrari] bet on the one-stop strategy, and it worked. We didn’t think it would work. Charles [Leclerc] drove superbly, and for us, they’re fantastic points.”

“They [Ferrari] were strong all weekend, especially Charles [Leclerc]. There are still some races to go. It seems Ferrari is back in the fight,” he added. “Everyone is chasing Red Bull, but Ferrari is not far behind us.” – he pointed out.

For much of the 2024 Formula One season, even though it is becoming apparent only now, four teams were contending for victory. Red Bull is currently unable to improve its car – in addition to Sergio Pérez’s difficulties – and this puts them under great pressure. Other teams are closing the gap in both the Formula One drivers’ and constructors’ standings.

McLaren is currently 8 points behind, while Ferrari is now just 39 points away. Despite appearances, Ferrari has the same number of wins as McLaren in 2024. Considering the progress made by the Italian team, they might officially be back in the title fight.