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 workforce 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 value his workforce the title, together with 4 DNFs, considered one of which was a double retirement on the Canadian Grand Prix.
Pink Bull initially appeared on monitor for an additional dominant season, successful 4 of the primary 5 races with three one-two finishes. Nonetheless, when their efficiency dipped, it was McLaren—not Ferrari—who capitalized.
Christian Horner has urged that McLaren’s rise was not completely truthful, implying they didn’t absolutely adjust to laws. Following the Azerbaijan GP in September, they have been compelled to switch their ‘mini DRS’ rear-wing design after rivals, each publicly and privately, labeled it unlawful.
Ferrari have been much less outspoken than Pink Bull of their complaints, permitting Frederic Vasseur to take care of a superb relationship with McLaren CEO Zak Brown. Nonetheless, this doesn’t imply Ferrari are completely happy with the FIA’s dealing with of the state of affairs.
Ferrari sad with FIA’s new flexi-wing guidelines
In Could, the FIA will implement a brand new technical directive to tighten laws on front-wing flexibility, aiming to remove extreme motion that gives an aerodynamic benefit.
In keeping with The Race, Ferrari and Pink Bull have been well-prepared for these modifications however should not completely happy with how the state of affairs has unfolded. They query why the FIA didn’t take comparable 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. Nonetheless, for unspecified causes, this by no means materialized. McLaren, perceived as the first beneficiary of the loophole, might have gained a bonus within the ultimate quarter of 2024 and will nonetheless retain it in early 2025.
Hamilton might battle with one side of being a Ferrari driver
The aggressive order in 2025 may 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 for the reason that finish of 2020, Lando Norris may have the quickest automobile, and the Monegasque is already deeply built-in into the Ferrari workforce. Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde believes Hamilton may enhance his qualifying performances by analyzing his new teammate.
One journalist has urged that the British driver might not benefit from the distinctive media scrutiny that comes with driving for Ferrari. Nonetheless, as the game’s largest star, he’s already effectively accustomed to dealing with such consideration.