British former racing driver and former television pundit for Sky Sports F1, Johnny Herbert, has expressed his belief that Scuderia Ferrari is poised to be the primary contenders against Red Bull’s dominance in the 2024 Formula 1 season, after the Austrian side lacked any form of real competition this year. According to Johnny Herbert, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc possess the correct mindset to challenge Max Verstappen and Ferrari has the tools necessary to come back stronger next season.
While the Maranello team fell short of securing the second position, losing it to Mercedes after a very close battle which lasted until the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Italian side stood out as the only team other than Red Bull to secure a race win, courtesy of Carlos Sainz’s memorable victory at the Marina Bay street circuit in Singapore. As the winter approaches, teams such as Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari, and Aston Martin emerge as potential challengers to Red Bull, each having their moments of success throughout the 2023 Formula 1 championship.
Johnny Herbert, the former Sky pundit, favors Ferrari in view of 2024, attributing their advantage to the drivers’ “right mentality.”
“I think the one who’s got the driver pair, and I really do like they have the right mentality, that’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz,” the former racing driver explained in an interview for PlanetF1 who quizzed him on who could maybe challenge Red Bull in the upcoming Formula 1 campaign – “Ferrari have had in the last couple of years a car that probably could have, should have, won the Championship, but through various reasons, it never quite came together. And that’s where you have had the likes of Mercedes in the past, it all comes together. You’ve got it this year [with Red Bull]. It’s every single element coming together.” – Johnny Herbert pointed out.
In 2023, the Maranello team experienced the inaugural year under the leadership of former Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur. Johnny Herbert, having conversed with an insider from the team, perceives that the influence of the Frenchman is now beginning to make an impact:
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“I spoke to someone in Abu Dhabi and he said it’s just now we’re just seeing those signs of what Fred is all about and what he’s trying to draw together. To be able to give them everything that they need when they actually start next season. Fred is a very good businessman, loves his racing, he’s got the right mindset for it and it looks as if it’s definitely moved in the right direction. But there’s still a little bit more work that needs to be done on the competitive side, if you’re really going to take it to Max [Verstappen]. Maybe not quali where I think it’s all very, very close. It’s the race, that’s where Red Bull and Max have still got a slight advantage.” – Johnny Herbert concluded.
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