Ferrari purpose to dethrone McLaren this season and safe their first constructors’ championship since 2008. With Lewis Hamilton becoming a member of Charles Leclerc, they arguably have the strongest driver pairing on the grid.
Fred Vasseur’s crew completed simply 14 factors behind McLaren in final 12 months’s standings, a margin equal to solely 0.12% of the whole factors obtainable all through the season. Inevitably, Vasseur will replicate on the moments that price his crew the title, together with 4 DNFs, one among which was a double retirement on the Canadian Grand Prix.
Purple Bull initially appeared on observe for one more dominant season, successful 4 of the primary 5 races with three one-two finishes. Nevertheless, when their efficiency dipped, it was McLaren—not Ferrari—who capitalized.
Christian Horner has instructed that McLaren’s rise was not solely honest, implying they didn’t totally adjust to laws. Following the Azerbaijan GP in September, they have been pressured to change their ‘mini DRS’ rear-wing design after rivals, each publicly and privately, labeled it unlawful.
Ferrari have been much less outspoken than Purple Bull of their complaints, permitting Frederic Vasseur to keep up a superb relationship with McLaren CEO Zak Brown. Nevertheless, this doesn’t imply Ferrari are solely glad with the FIA’s dealing with of the scenario.
Ferrari sad with FIA’s new flexi-wing guidelines
In Might, the FIA will implement a brand new technical directive to tighten laws on front-wing flexibility, aiming to eradicate extreme motion that gives an aerodynamic benefit.
In response to The Race, Ferrari and Purple Bull have been well-prepared for these modifications however will not be solely glad with how the scenario has unfolded. They query why the FIA didn’t take related motion final season.
Each groups pushed for elevated scrutiny over the summer season break, and there have been discussions a few crackdown ranging from the Singapore GP. Nevertheless, for unspecified causes, this by no means materialized. McLaren, perceived as the first beneficiary of the loophole, could have gained a bonus within the last quarter of 2024 and will nonetheless retain it in early 2025.
Hamilton could wrestle with one facet of being a Ferrari driver
The aggressive order in 2025 might shift considerably as soon as the brand new directive takes impact, however groups nonetheless have time to adapt.
Hamilton has an outdoor probability of securing his eighth world title this season. Ferrari are anticipated to be contenders, however Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc could also be in a stronger place. The Dutchman stays unbeaten because the finish of 2020, Lando Norris might have the quickest automobile, and the Monegasque is already deeply built-in into the Ferrari crew. Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde believes Hamilton might enhance his qualifying performances by analyzing his new teammate.
One journalist has instructed that the British driver could not benefit from the distinctive media scrutiny that comes with driving for Ferrari. Nevertheless, as the game’s largest star, he’s already properly accustomed to dealing with such consideration.