The performance of the SF-24 single-seater has been encouraging: Ferrari finished the Dutch Grand Prix with a third and fifth place, a very positive result compared to expectations. With a significant aerodynamic update package scheduled for next weekend at the Monza circuit in the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari is still very much in the fight for the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship.
The rivals, Red Bull and McLaren, won’t be easy to beat, but they have weaknesses that should not be underestimated. Let’s take a closer look.
Red Bull’s technical issues, but there’s more
Throughout 2024, the performance of the RB20 has shown a downward trend. After an undisputed dominance in the early outings, the Milton Keynes team has now been “pulled back” by its competitors.
During the Zandvoort race, which on paper was expected to be negative for Ferrari, Charles Leclerc’s pace was superior to that of Max Verstappen for much of the second stint. The “motivation” factor should certainly be considered: the Monegasque driver was defending the podium from Oscar Piastri, while the home driver was in a comfortable second position, with no incentive to push as fast as possible.
Yet it’s worth noting that the SF-24, despite its current flaws (which could be corrected at Monza), finished less than 3 seconds behind Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and clearly ahead, both with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, of Sergio Pérez’s.
In short, the 64-point gap in the standings from the Austrian team is bridgeable, especially when considering the following factors: the technical (and internal, since the Christian Horner case) crisis of the Milton Keynes team and a Ferrari “rediscovered” in terms of performance. But McLaren also needs to be taken into account…
McLaren under pressure
At the moment, the MCL38 is undoubtedly the fastest car on the grid, having dominated the Dutch race with Lando Norris. However, the car’s performance isn’t the only factor that influences the point tally at the end of the weekend: several times during the year, we’ve seen the team—or the drivers—make mistakes that have affected the final result.
With Norris charging for the drivers’ title and the Woking team less accustomed than its rivals to fighting at the top, it’s not guaranteed that McLaren will be able to maximize its points every weekend. If Ferrari remains ready, it could recover the current 34-point deficit and win the Constructors’ Championship (Red Bull permitting, but we’ve already discussed that).
In your opinion, given the current situation, which team is the favorite to win the 2024 Formula 1 title? Let us know in the comments.
