On the eve of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ferrari’s rallying cry was to consider and push to the final lap to depart no room for remorse. Whereas the Constructors’ Championship didn’t go Maranello’s means, broadening the attitude, 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 optimistic features to construct upon in pursuit of the championship. To know why, we should revisit the story of this championship, beginning with its beginnings, when Ferrari emerged because the second-strongest drive behind Purple Bull within the early races.
Like Mercedes, Ferrari determined to vary its idea in 2023, however unlocking its true potential required the winter improvement part, together with a chassis redesign. As in earlier years, the work carried out in Maranello in the course of the low season bore fruit. Given the struggles of Mercedes and McLaren, Ferrari shortly asserted itself because the second drive on the grid.
A Strong Basis from the Begin
Though the hole to Purple Bull remained appreciable, beginning the season with a stable basis for continued improvement was a key goal. Whereas there have been nonetheless areas to handle, corresponding to efficiency in lengthy and high-speed corners, the progress made with the SF-24 in the course of the winter was evident, with notable developments throughout a number of areas.
When it comes to general 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 yr, the hole this season was greater than halved. This was due partially to the SF-24 being basically totally different from its predecessor, not solely in strengths but in addition in steadiness and dealing with.
One of many goals was to make the automotive extra predictable and simpler to drive than the SF-23, which was typically troublesome to deal with, significantly in robust wind situations because of its aerodynamic map. From the outset, the 2024 automotive proved to be not solely extra manageable and intuitive for the drivers but in addition well-balanced.
However, the SF-24 additionally differed from its predecessor in particular traits, corresponding to its capability 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 delicate tires in Q3, the place the group confronted some extra challenges.
Regardless of areas requiring additional work, the progress noticed within the early races confirmed the effectiveness of the winter improvement efforts. Ferrari secured podium finishes in virtually each one of many first six Grands Prix, with the only real exception of China. This was a vital issue, because the stable basis allowed the group to shift its focus to improvement, 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 among the SF-24’s greatest qualities. This got here regardless of the automotive typically falling brief in qualifying efficiency all year long. Nevertheless, in Monte Carlo, the place qualifying is every thing, Ferrari didn’t disappoint, leveraging a observe that suited the automotive’s traits.
The Return of Bouncing Revealed Strengths and Weaknesses
The enjoyment of Monaco preceded Ferrari’s most difficult interval of 2024: the midseason part. In Canada, as later admitted by the Maranello group, a setup mistake value them, nevertheless it paradoxically turned a crucial lesson utilized within the second half of the championship. Extra sophisticated was the triple-header of Spain, Austria, and Nice Britain, the place Ferrari stumbled into a standard 2024 pitfall—errors in improvement.
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 automotive’s efficiency but in addition eroded driver confidence.
The Austrian GP illustrated this challenge starkly, with the bouncing so extreme that the group 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 Purple 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 vital developments needed to wait till after the summer time break.
Classes from a Troublesome Part
Reflecting on the season, Staff Principal Frédéric Vasseur pointed to this difficult interval as a crucial consider dropping factors within the Constructors’ Championship:
“I don’t need to make a listing, 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 said.
Certainly, this issue coincided with the season’s most delicate part—a grueling calendar that includes three consecutive high-speed circuits, adopted by a short 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 Sturdy Second Half of the Season
Recovering from setbacks is commonly thought-about the hallmark of success, and Ferrari embodied this precept. From their midseason struggles, they discovered their means 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 struggle. Nevertheless, acquainted points endured in subsequent races, corresponding to high-speed nook deficiencies in Qatar and sensitivity to chilly situations, as seen in Las Vegas, the place the automotive 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 yr are one other space requiring vital focus in the course of 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 automotive showcased its strengths at tracks like Abu Dhabi, underscoring Ferrari’s want to handle comparable deficiencies.
Regardless of its challenges, Ferrari’s season laid a basis for a very new 2025 undertaking. The objective is to launch a championship-winning marketing campaign within the closing yr of this regulatory cycle.
Whereas Ferrari lacked pure efficiency and technical management in comparison with a McLaren that emphasised dependable updates, the group’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 yr forward.
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