Constructors’ Championship objective for Ferrari this season
“In what case will I be satisfied at the end of 2024? If we have done a better job than in 2023.” Scuderia Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur did not set goals on the eve of this season which has seen a Ferrari in great shape, especially when compared to the stuttering SF-23 single-seater that started 2023 by immediately penalizing Charles Leclerc on the starting grid for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in the second race of the championship (due to the technical issues of two control units used at the Bahrain International Circuit).
The SF-24 car already has a victory to its name, even with a one-two finish – something that has been missing in Maranello since the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix – Charles Leclerc is just four points behind Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ standings ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix and Ferrari at the same distance from Red Bull in the Constructors’ standings.
Numbers should not deceive of course, given the fact that Max Verstappen was forced to retire due to a technical issue in Australia, but he dominated in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, races in which Sergio Perez completed a Red Bull one-two. Other numbers that do not deceive are those of the significant performance leap of Ferrari: the SF-24 is the car that has achieved the most significant performance increase – by no small margin – compared to its predecessor. There will be no major updates in Japan yet, but optimism can be had regarding the developments that will be made to this project, which has started off very well.
Frederic Vasseur’s management is therefore bearing evident fruits. However, the French manager does not make proclamations; he is pragmatic and looks ahead with realism, without indulging in flights of fancy. Judging from the first three races of the 2024 Formula 1 championship, the Drivers’ title does not seem to be up for discussion in light of Max Verstappen’s performance, as the Dutchman has also scored three out of three pole positions so far. The discussion regarding the Constructors’ title is different, and Fred Vasseur wants to challenge Red Bull for this target. An objective that could be within reach, according to former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi:
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“I was in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for the first two races of the championship, and I witnessed a team that is more on the ball, with better overall organization – the former idol of Ferrari fans wrote in an article for the Italian daily newspaper La Stampa – In the Scuderia, no one blames others anymore; Fred was exemplary in creating a group. Red Bull remains the reference, but different prospects are opening up. The gap has been significantly reduced, and pressure can be put on Red Bull, forcing them to take risks at the expense of reliability. The Constructors’ Championship could be a first concrete objective.” – Jean Alesi pointed out.
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