Ferrari wins convincingly. In Australia, the Prancing Horse secures its first victory of the season, facilitated by Max Verstappen’s retirement aboard a Red Bull, which, however, was far from perfect throughout the weekend.
The Red team’s one-two start from the strong form displayed since Friday, a dynamic that highlights the merits of a car that is easier to comprehend and set up from the early practice sessions.
Victory Built on Friday
“We’ve been competitive since the first lap of the first day,” commented Frederic Vasseur in the traditional press conference. “I think we not only had a good race but a good weekend from the beginning. Today’s victory was built on Friday. When we remain problem-free during free practice, we show up for the race in better conditions.”
Even in 2024, Ferrari seems capable of hitting the track with a good starting point, a quality appreciated last season and indicative of the good work done in the simulator. “I think we’re ready right from the start for the weekends,” Fred Vasseur continues. “However, when there are minor reliability issues or you don’t have a clean day, you end up losing time. When racing against Red Bull, you can’t afford to lose a single lap. Since the start of the season, we’ve had solid free practice sessions.” The only critique in Australia is for missing out on a pole position that seemed within reach: “In qualifying, we felt we could have done better, but it wasn’t a disaster, considering that the race was focused on tire management.”
The Strengths of the SF-24
“I don’t focus on Red Bull’s performance but ours,” the Team Principal’s response when asked about the reigning champions’ misstep. Despite Max Verstappen’s retirement, after three Grands Prix, Ferrari appears equally competitive with all the Pirelli tire compounds, unlike in 2023. “We’ve made a huge leap in consistency with the different tire compounds and among the various stints. The car is much easier for the drivers to drive and understand, as well as develop. This is the biggest step forward since last year: I wouldn’t say it’s an easy car to handle, but it allows us to reach a good compromise with the setup for the weekend sooner.”
The ease of understanding and comprehending the car facilitates preparation work in the simulator and aerodynamic development, as well as the drivers’ task and tire management. “Last year, the main problem was that the car was very difficult to drive,” explains Fred Vasseur. “Mistakes were made, tires were damaged, and all this created a vicious circle. Now, it’s easier for the drivers to understand the car’s limit and stay just below it. Tire management is also simpler. The drivers are more in control now, whereas a year ago, they were in survival mode and consuming tires faster.”
Missed Challenge
The big question mark is whether Ferrari could have competed on equal terms with Max Verstappen in Australia, a question Fred Vasseur doesn’t dare to tackle either: “No one will ever know. If we compare our pace with Sergio Perez’s, it seems it would have been possible, but we know the gap between him and Max Verstappen.” Nevertheless, the Prancing Horse demonstrates adeptness in managing the graining of the front tires, a skill already exhibited in last season’s Las Vegas Grand Prix: “It’s true that we’re good in these situations. In the last race, however, we also set the fastest lap at the end. It shows that we’re heading in the right direction regarding stint management, but I wouldn’t want to draw hasty conclusions.”
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The Albert Park one-two yields important points for the world championship, but it’s even more beneficial for morale internally: “In our world, self-confidence is crucial. I think we’ve built it over the past few months, already towards the end of last season. I’m not sure we’ll be able to put everything together every weekend, but this weekend is proof that when we do, we can put pressure and induce errors. We need to continue in this direction.” The Maranello head honcho reminds the team not to rest on their laurels: “This isn’t a point of arrival but the path for the coming months.”
Carlos Sainz’s Recovery
Ferrari’s victory in Australia bears Carlos Sainz’s signature. The Spaniard’s success is doubly significant because, in addition to coming two weeks after appendicitis surgery, it attests to his dedication to a team from which he will depart at the end of the season. “This winter, we agreed to push together until the last lap of the season,” comments the Team Principal. “He’s doing a fantastic job, starting from Bahrain when he spurred the team on. Jeddah was a tough weekend, but he made a mega recovery. It must be remembered that two weeks ago, he was in the hospital. This Friday, it wasn’t even certain if he could drive, but after two laps, he had already found the rhythm. This is part of today’s success because if you want to be competitive, you can’t afford to miss a single lap during free practice. Considering where he came from, no one expected this result from him today.”
On his part, Charles Leclerc has to settle for second place. The Monegasque, starting from fourth on the grid, fails to challenge his teammate, hampered by a strategy far from optimal but necessary to prevail over the McLarens after qualifying errors. “The standings are one thing, the pace another,” emphasizes Fred Vasseur, discouraging comparison between the two Ferrari drivers’ times. “With Charles, we had to cover Piastri’s stop early on, which wasn’t ideal in terms of the overall race time. We didn’t want to give up the position on the track and put Charles Leclerc in a difficult situation. However, his pace on the hard tires was good.”
Ollie Bearman, Forgettable Australia
Carlos Sainz’s return to the car allows Oliver Bearman to focus on the Formula 2 weekend, which ended with just one point. A result far from the expectations, but one that doesn’t worry Fred Vasseur: “My comment is the same as in Jeddah, when everyone was excited. I had said that the priority would be to do well in Formula 2, which we know is a big challenge. The grid is very balanced, not to mention that switching from one car to another isn’t easy. We need to read Ollie’s weekend well. In qualifying, he encountered a red flag on the first lap, while an engine problem affected his second. At that point, when you find yourself starting from the back of the grid, it’s not easy.”
Oliver Bearman will return to the Formula 2 track in May for the Imola round, when he will once again assume the role of Ferrari reserve driver.
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