Among the many VIPs noticed at the Jeddah circuit in Saudi Arabia, the presence of Ferrari’s chairman, John Elkann, did not go unnoticed as he witnessed a strong performance from the two red SF-24 cars. Charles Leclerc managed to secure the second podium of the 2024 Formula One season for the Maranello team and his first personally, confirming that Ferrari is currently the clear second force on the grid, with a solid gap ahead of Mercedes, Aston Martin, and McLaren. Oliver Bearman rounded off a great day for the Prancing Horse with a fantastic seventh place in his Formula 1 debut race, after starting from the 11th position on the grid, as the Ferrari Driver Academy member stepped in for Carlos Sainz, who was unable to race due to appendicitis.
Praise for Charles Leclerc and Oliver Bearman
Speaking to Sky Sport F1, John Elkann addressed all these points, starting from the significant progress made by the red cars compared to the start of the 2023 Formula One season and also emphasizing the important investment made in recent years on young talents and the Ferrari Driver Academy project, which will soon see Jerome D’Ambrosio joining from Mercedes as the new head.
“This was a great race – John Elkann commented – we made it to the podium, Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap, there was a great debut by Oliver Bearman and Carlos Sainz showed a great team spirit being present at the circuit despite his surgery. This is what makes Ferrari so special, and it’s something to be proud of for everyone who worked for such an extremely encouraging result. Surely, one of the great efforts made in recent years has been to focus on young talents, and this is evident with Charles Leclerc and Oliver Bearman, two drivers who have grown up in Ferrari. For us, it’s a matter of great pride to see how Ferrari talent finds a place to express itself. This doesn’t happen in all teams.” – the Ferrari president pointed out.
Looking to the future, Lewis Hamilton and 2026
However, next year one of the grid’s veteran drivers, Lewis Hamilton, will join Scuderia Ferrari. Asked about the possibility of winning the Formula 1 world title before the regulatory change in 2026 and the importance of signing a motorsport legend like Lewis Hamilton, Elkann John focused on the importance of being competitive: “Looking at where we were a year ago, this championship has started better, but as always, the important thing is to try to improve and make progress” – stated Ferrari chairman at the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
“It’s the dynamic that we currently feel in Ferrari and it’s something that should be encouraged. In 2026 a cycle will end, and another will begin. The important thing is to continue to be competitive and to fuel the spirit that was felt tonight. LewisHamilton? I have publicly stated over the years how great a driver he is, what he has done for Formula 1. His arrival at Ferrari is an important sign of how much he believes he can achieve great things with us. Bearman will remember for the rest of his life that he finished ahead of Hamilton in his debut, but the hug between the two is a testament to how much of a champion Lewis is both on and off the track. He is an example for future generations.” – John Elkann concluded.
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