Ferrari arrived at the 2024 Formula 1 season with what appears to be the second-quickest car after Red Bull. However, in the recent Australian Grand Prix, the SF-24 performed equally as well as the RB20. The Italian team managed to handle tire wear better than the reigning champions. Throughout the weekend, Ferrari drivers exerted significant pressure on Max Verstappen. Despite Charles Leclerc’s mistake in qualifying, Carlos Sainz secured second place on the starting grid and went on to win the race after Verstappen retired due to brake failure. Leclerc finished in second place.
Reflecting on the weekend, it is evident that had Verstappen not retired, the race would not have been straightforward for him. He would have faced a tough challenge from the Ferrari cars, given their impressive pace in practice. Fred Vasseur, speaking after the race, praised the SF-24, highlighting its significant improvement compared to its predecessor, the SF-23. The SF-23 had a tendency to consume tires quickly during races, despite its speed over a single lap. Vasseur emphasized that the team made substantial progress in terms of consistency between different tire compounds. The car is now easier to drive and interpret for the drivers, making it simpler to develop. This represents the most significant improvement compared to the previous year, allowing for better management and understanding of the car early in the weekend.
In 2023, Ferrari secured seven pole positions but only managed to win in Singapore, where Red Bull faced internal issues. This highlighted the challenge of managing the car during races, despite its strong qualifying performance. Vasseur acknowledged that the car was difficult to handle in races, leading to mistakes and tire damage. This created a negative cycle. However, this year, the car is easier to read, enabling the drivers to understand the limits and stay just below them. Tire management has become much simpler, and the team has better control over the car compared to last year when they were in survival mode, causing rapid tire degradation.
Following the Australian GP, Ferrari is only four points behind Red Bull, the current leaders of the 2024 F1 Constructors’ Championship. Leclerc is in second place in the F1 Drivers’ Standings, trailing Verstappen by four points. Sainz, who missed the Saudi Arabian GP due to appendicitis surgery, is in fourth place, seven points behind his teammate.