Ferrari goal 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 group completed simply 14 factors behind McLaren in final yr’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 group the title, together with 4 DNFs, one in every of which was a double retirement on the Canadian Grand Prix.
Purple Bull initially appeared on monitor 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 urged that McLaren’s rise was not totally honest, implying they didn’t absolutely adjust to rules. Following the Azerbaijan GP in September, they had been pressured to switch their ‘mini DRS’ rear-wing design after rivals, each publicly and privately, labeled it unlawful.
Ferrari had been much less outspoken than Purple Bull of their complaints, permitting Frederic Vasseur to take care of a great relationship with McLaren CEO Zak Brown. Nevertheless, this doesn’t imply Ferrari are totally glad with the FIA’s dealing with of the state of affairs.
Ferrari sad with FIA’s new flexi-wing guidelines
In Might, the FIA will implement a brand new technical directive to tighten rules on front-wing flexibility, aiming to remove extreme motion that gives an aerodynamic benefit.
Based on The Race, Ferrari and Purple Bull had been well-prepared for these adjustments however usually are not totally glad with how the state of affairs has unfolded. They query why the FIA didn’t take related motion final season.
Each groups pushed for elevated scrutiny over the summer time break, and there have been discussions a couple of 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 ultimate quarter of 2024 and will nonetheless retain it in early 2025.
Hamilton could wrestle with one side 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 for the reason that finish of 2020, Lando Norris might have the quickest automotive, and the Monegasque is already deeply built-in into the Ferrari group. Former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde believes Hamilton might enhance his qualifying performances by analyzing his new teammate.
One journalist has urged that the British driver could not benefit from the distinctive media scrutiny that comes with driving for Ferrari. Nevertheless, as the game’s greatest star, he’s already nicely accustomed to dealing with such consideration.