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As the 2024 Formula 1 season crosses the halfway mark, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc offered a candid assessment of the team’s current standing and the challenges ahead.
With 14 of the 24 scheduled races completed, Ferrari sits third in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing Red Bull and McLaren. Despite showing early promise, the team’s performance has dipped, leaving them with significant work to do if they hope to close the gap and compete for top honours.
Leclerc acknowledged the difficulties faced by the team, revealing that Ferrari is doing “absolutely everything” to address the issues with their current car, the SF-24.
The mysterious impact of Barcelona’s upgrade package
These problems, particularly the reintroduction of bouncing—an issue that plagued several teams under the new regulations introduced in 2022—have hampered Ferrari’s competitiveness.
The troubles began after the team introduced a significant upgrade package at the Spanish Grand Prix, negatively impacting the car’s performance.
“We are putting absolutely everything in order to turn the situation around,” Leclerc emphasised, highlighting the team’s commitment to resolving their issues and improving their results in the remaining races.
Ferrari’s season began with strong performances, including victories by Carlos Sainz in Australia and Leclerc in Monaco.
Double header ✅
Now time for the @F1 summer break ☀️ pic.twitter.com/ijJtkviOOI
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) July 30, 2024
Return of a past nightmare for Ferrari
However, the upgrade package introduced in Barcelona has been identified as the culprit behind the car’s struggles. The new floor design, in particular, has been linked to the return of the bouncing phenomenon, causing the team to drop from second to fourth in the competitive hierarchy.
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur had earlier expressed a more optimistic view, suggesting that the team is in a better position than at the same point last year. Ferrari has scored 345 points so far this season, a notable improvement from the 228 points they had after 14 races in 2023. They have also secured two race wins this season, a significant improvement over last year, when they had none.
Leclerc gives a verdict
Despite these positives, Leclerc admitted that the team’s current position differs from what they anticipated. “No, it would be a lie,” Leclerc said when asked if he expected Ferrari to be in this situation, according to racingnews365.com.
“I don’t think we had much expectation when we got into the season, we’re just really focusing on ourselves. It’s very difficult to expect or anticipate anything with these cars.
“We did not expect to be where we are, but we are here and we are very much aware of where the areas are where we need to work.”
As the season progresses, Ferrari faces an uphill battle to reclaim their place at the top. The team must address the issues plaguing the SF-24 if they hope to challenge Red Bull and McLaren in the remaining races.
Feature Image Credit: Vince Mignott/MB Media via Getty Images