The year 2024 will be a crucial one for Ferrari, and there is no room for mistakes: many stakes are open for the future of F1 and beyond…
In three weeks, the covers will be lifted on Ferrari’s Formula 1 car for the 2024 season. It will be a modest presentation, without fans or press, reflecting the new approach imposed by Fred Vasseur. This year’s car will be the first one born under the management of the French Team Principal, and expectations are high.
Certainly, the goal is to close the gap with Red Bull, but as reported by the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, 2024 will be decisive on multiple fronts.
Key Project, and FIA Puts the Brakes on Red Bull:
Establishing a solid foundation will be crucial. Formula 1 is on the eve of an epochal change, requiring substantial commitment and resources from the teams. 2025 is thus positioned as a transition year, where many components of the current cars will be transferred to those of the next year, allowing teams to concentrate efforts for the regulatory revolution in 2026.
A robust project this year would, therefore, ensure an immediate advantage for the following season, with indirect implications for 2026 as well.
In this perspective, it’s not surprising that Ferrari and other teams fought to prevent Red Bull from starting work on the 2026 car prematurely. The FIA has determined that aerodynamics of the cars can only be studied starting from January 1, 2025.
Regarding the Power Unit, however, Ferrari’s is already undergoing testing on the Maranello test bench, as permitted by regulations.
Political Weight: The President’s Turn:
But the 2024 Formula One championship will also be decisive in other aspects. Ferrari must regain its political weight in view of renewing the Concorde Agreement and ratifying the 2026 regulations. In a phase where the FIA is experiencing a real power vacuum, with only Tombazis remaining at the technical helm, it will be crucial to be a protagonist in the decision-making process.
Here, Scuderia Ferrari must reclaim its identity, and it is hoped that, in addition to Frederic Vasseur, President John Elkann will also play a significant role in imposing a firm stance.
Source: f1ingenerale
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