On the eve of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ferrari’s rallying cry was to consider and push to the final lap to go away no room for remorse. Whereas the Constructors’ Championship didn’t go Maranello’s method, broadening the angle, the truth that Ferrari fought for the title till the tip underscores the expansion achieved all year long.
In a season that proved extraordinarily difficult on a number of fronts for a lot of groups, Ferrari demonstrated a number of constructive elements to construct upon in pursuit of the championship. To grasp why, we should revisit the story of this championship, beginning with its beginnings, when Ferrari emerged because the second-strongest drive behind Crimson Bull within the early races.
Like Mercedes, Ferrari determined to alter its idea in 2023, however unlocking its true potential required the winter growth section, together with a chassis redesign. As in earlier years, the work carried out in Maranello throughout the low season bore fruit. Given the struggles of Mercedes and McLaren, Ferrari shortly asserted itself because the second drive on the grid.
A Stable Basis from the Begin
Though the hole to Crimson Bull remained appreciable, beginning the season with a strong basis for continued growth was a key goal. Whereas there have been nonetheless areas to deal with, similar to efficiency in lengthy and high-speed corners, the progress made with the SF-24 throughout the winter was evident, with notable developments throughout a number of areas.
By way of total efficiency, knowledge highlighted enhancements in medium-to-high-speed corners at circuits like Saudi Arabia and Japan. As an illustration, at Suzuka, the place the SF-23 misplaced round six-tenths within the first sector alone on the finish of final 12 months, the hole this season was greater than halved. This was due partly to the SF-24 being essentially totally different from its predecessor, not solely in strengths but in addition in steadiness and dealing with.
One of many aims was to make the automobile extra predictable and simpler to drive than the SF-23, which was typically tough to deal with, significantly in robust wind situations as a consequence of its aerodynamic map. From the outset, the 2024 automobile proved to be not solely extra manageable and intuitive for the drivers but in addition well-balanced.
Then again, the SF-24 additionally differed from its predecessor in particular traits, similar to its skill to protect tire life over lengthy distances, although this got here at the price of shortly bringing tires into their optimum efficiency window throughout qualifying. This was a recurring theme all through the season, significantly when extracting most grip from the comfortable tires in Q3, the place the workforce confronted some extra challenges.
Regardless of areas requiring additional work, the progress noticed within the early races confirmed the effectiveness of the winter growth efforts. Ferrari secured podium finishes in nearly each one of many first six Grands Prix, with the only real exception of China. This was an important issue, because the strong basis allowed the workforce to shift its focus to growth, with the primary improve bundle arriving in Imola.
Monaco Was the Brightest Gem of Ferrari’s First Half of the Season
Monaco stood out as probably the most dazzling spotlight of the primary half of the championship for Ferrari, showcasing Charles Leclerc’s distinctive expertise on the streets of the Principality and highlighting a number of the SF-24’s finest qualities. This got here regardless of the automobile typically falling quick in qualifying efficiency all year long. Nevertheless, in Monte Carlo, the place qualifying is all the pieces, Ferrari didn’t disappoint, leveraging a observe that suited the automobile’s traits.
The Return of Bouncing Revealed Strengths and Weaknesses
The enjoyment of Monaco preceded Ferrari’s most difficult interval of 2024: the midseason section. In Canada, as later admitted by the Maranello workforce, a setup mistake value them, but it surely paradoxically turned a important lesson utilized within the second half of the championship. Extra difficult was the triple-header of Spain, Austria, and Nice Britain, the place Ferrari stumbled into a typical 2024 pitfall—errors in growth.
In an effort to boost downforce, Ferrari launched a considerable improve bundle in Barcelona, together with a brand new ground. Nevertheless, the updates introduced again aggressive bouncing, which not solely compromised the automobile’s efficiency but in addition eroded driver confidence.
The Austrian GP illustrated this subject starkly, with the bouncing so extreme that the workforce deserted the brand new ground by Silverstone.
Even reverting to an older specification that offered extra stability and fewer aggressive peaks in downforce, Ferrari discovered itself lagging behind opponents like Crimson Bull and McLaren, significantly in high-speed sections. Though preliminary corrections have been made by Hungary, partially assuaging the bouncing, it was evident that these fixes alone couldn’t shut the hole. Extra important developments needed to wait till after the summer time break.
Classes from a Tough Part
Reflecting on the season, Crew Principal Frédéric Vasseur pointed to this difficult interval as a important consider dropping factors within the Constructors’ Championship:
“I don’t wish to make an inventory, however with the brand new updates, we had three or 4 consecutive races the place we struggled a bit. Throughout this era, we misplaced about 80 or 90 factors in comparison with McLaren,”* Vasseur acknowledged.
Certainly, this issue coincided with the season’s most delicate section—a grueling calendar that includes three consecutive high-speed circuits, adopted by a quick one-week break, then two extra races. Whereas Ferrari launched fixes between Silverstone and Budapest, the compressed schedule of 5 Grands Prix in six weeks left little time for complete intervention, costing invaluable factors within the championship battle.
A Robust Second Half of the Season
Recovering from setbacks is usually thought of the hallmark of success, and Ferrari embodied this precept. From their midseason struggles, they discovered their method again, significantly with the upgrades launched at Monza.
The updates in Italy, adopted by enhancements to wing flexibility, offered elevated downforce and stability with out reintroducing the bouncing points that had plagued the SF-24 earlier. This progress was evident in Austin, the place the observe highlighted Mercedes’ W15 limitations, whereas Ferrari excelled in gradual corners and clinched one other victory.
The identical strengths resurfaced in Mexico, the place Ferrari secured a second consecutive win, reentering the championship battle. Nevertheless, acquainted points continued in subsequent races, similar to high-speed nook deficiencies in Qatar and sensitivity to chilly situations, as seen in Las Vegas, the place the automobile struggled to shortly convey its tires into the optimum efficiency window.
The SF-24 thrived on circuits with sharp corners and lengthy straights, favoring its traits. But, chilly temperatures remained a limiting issue. Ferrari’s qualifying struggles this 12 months are one other space requiring important focus throughout the low season, as McLaren, for example, managed to steadiness single-lap efficiency with race tempo—a feat Ferrari has but to realize.
Constructing In the direction of 2025
Ferrari’s efficiency in quick sections and lengthy corners stays an space needing enchancment, together with mixed braking zones that demand higher front-end stability. This was an space the place the MCL38 excelled, with McLaren making substantial progress in comparison with previous seasons. Their balanced and efficient automobile showcased its strengths at tracks like Abu Dhabi, underscoring Ferrari’s want to deal with comparable deficiencies.
Regardless of its challenges, Ferrari’s season laid a basis for a very new 2025 mission. The purpose is to launch a championship-winning marketing campaign within the last 12 months of this regulatory cycle.
Whereas Ferrari lacked pure efficiency and technical management in comparison with a McLaren that emphasised dependable updates, the workforce’s cohesion—each technical and human—proved invaluable. Strategic enhancements, influenced by Fred Vasseur, turned a key asset, forming the bedrock for subsequent season’s efforts. With this trajectory, Ferrari goals of a title-winning 12 months forward.
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