The race at Marina Bay could have been Ferrari’s last chance to achieve a good result and collect strong points in the final part of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Charles Leclerc had said this on the eve of the weekend, and he confirmed it during the race. The SF-24 was competitive. Perhaps not enough to fight for the win, but the times set by Charles in the second stint with Hard tires were even more competitive, at times, than those set by Lando Norris.
Charles Leclerc definitely had fresher tires, but if we consider the fact that he had to extend the first stint to be competitive at the end, then we can agree that the pace to fight at least for the podium was there. If only Ferrari hadn’t thrown it all away in qualifying, we might be discussing a different result. Maranello had to do everything to maximize the outcome, Charles knew it on Thursday, he had said it, and yet…
Saturday’s result ruined the weekend
Unfortunately, Saturday’s performance had a huge impact on the weekend. The tires were not up to temperature, and it’s pointless to speculate things like “If only Charles had been more conservative in the first corner,” “If he hadn’t been so aggressive, he would have gotten the tires up to temperature and completed a good lap.” Charles Leclerc had set a time in Q3 and ended up with a disappointing P7. Conservative or not, track limits or not, he still would have started mid-pack.
The Heated Tire Blanket Incident
Moreover, despite some trying to downplay the problem, with Charles Leclerc taking full blame for the qualifying performance after the race, retracting what he had said after Q3, there’s a video showing exactly what happened inside the Ferrari garage during the red flag. Two Ferrari mechanics look stunned as one holds the jack for the heated tire blanket on the front left. From their expressions, it doesn’t seem like a human error but a technical issue. Whatever happened, it’s clear that Charles couldn’t complete his Q3 lap at his full potential.
A Worrisome Weekend on Many Fronts
A weekend concerning almost in every way. Technical issues and too much discrepancy between the drivers’ statements and those of the team principal. In this way, Ferrari certainly does not give the impression of being a united team. Even Carlos Sainz had a race that fell short of expectations. His incident in qualifying may have shaken his confidence.
Leclerc Is the Only Bright Spot
The only positive aspect of Ferrari at the moment is Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque gives his all, with unmatched determination, always putting everything into the team. In the race, climbing from ninth to fifth, he proved his worth. Only Verstappen did better last year, also in Singapore, finishing fifth after starting from P11. However, it’s worth noting that, despite Red Bull facing difficulties that weekend, the championship level was not remotely comparable to the one seen this season.
In the Singapore Grand Prix, Ferrari may have wasted its last chance. Even though Fred Vasseur has announced updates for the upcoming GPs, we know that tracks with mostly fast corners suit McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes better. Las Vegas might be the only track that favors the red car. In the remaining races, unless miraculous updates come, Ferrari will once again have to limit the damage.
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