Alexandre
Ten months after a statement that left a lasting impression, Frédéric Vasseur, director of Scuderia Ferrari, is well on the way to keeping his promise: to make the 2024 season of Formula 1 a year of victories, not transition. This ambitious vision, announced at the time of the SF24's unveiling, now seems to make perfect sense, as Ferrari prepares for a decisive season finale to conquer the constructors' title.
2024: a season transformed under Vasseur's leadership
As soon as it arrived in Maranello, Vasseur made its mark. At the time, he declared that Ferrari no longer content with "good performances" but aims straight for the top, openly challenging Red Bull's hitherto unchallenged hegemony. The Scuderia has sent out a strong signal: Ferrari will do anything to recapture its glorious past.
The results speak for themselves. Ferrari, third in the constructors' championship in 2023, is now firmly in second place for 2024, with a significant gap over Red Bull, relegated to third place. Even better, the Scuderia Ferrari is just 19 points behind current leader McLaren, and still holds out real hope of clinching the crown in the final race. This prospect contrasts sharply with recent years, when Ferrari seemed condemned to playing second fiddle.
A delicate balance between talent and technology
Ferrari's rise to prominence is partly due to the skilful management of its driver duo. Carlos Sainz has been consistent, while Charles Leclerc, as incisive as ever, has demonstrated a consistency this year 2024 that was sometimes lacking in the past. This complementarity, although sometimes under stresshas maximize performance over the whole season.
On the technical side, Ferrari has also overcome one of its historical weaknesses: the handling of its single-seaters. Thanks to intensive work right from the testing phase, the SF24 gained in agility, proving particularly effective on demanding circuits. This progress, combined with significantly improved race management and strategiesThe result was that Ferrari was able to seriously compete with McLaren and Red Bull throughout the year.
The ultimate challenge: a decisive final race
As Ferrari enters the final round of the season, the 19-point gap with McLaren offers a glimmer of hope. However, the British rival has shown exemplary consistency in 2024, making it a tough task for the Scuderia. Nevertheless, the dynamics are favorable: Ferrari has demonstrated steady progress and an ability to handle the pressure in decisive races.
As Charles Leclerc recently reminded us, "Second place is fine, but it's still the loser's place. These words perfectly illustrate Ferrari's state of mind: aiming for victory at all costs. Even if the odds are slightly in McLaren's favor, a perfect race could change everything. Strategy, reliability and driver talent will be more crucial than ever.
No matter what, this 2024 season will be remembered as a renaissance for Ferrari under the leadership of Frédéric Vasseur. In the space of ten months, he has transformed a team in search of its bearings into a serious title contender. While first place may elude Ferrari this year, the foundations are firmly in place for the Italian team to become a major championship player in the years to come, with the added bonus of its new driver, Lewis Hamilton !
The Ferrari team's performance is remarkable and underlines the importance of a strong manager. On the same subject, see the evolution of the Alpine team with its new manager.
Frédéric Vasseur is surely the best manager for an F1 team, this guy is exemplary in his simplicity, which must please his drivers and mechanics. On the other hand, I don't see what Hamilton can bring to the team for 2025? He seems to be nearing the end of his career, as shown by what he's doing at Mercedes compared to his teammate, but let's wait until 2025.