The ultimate act of the F1 world championship, the place Ferrari is preventing for the title. Though it’s the constructors’ championship, this time two of the groups which have written the historical past of the highest motorsport class are battling for it. A rivalry that has written a number of the most necessary pages. As for the Maranello staff, it has been twelve years since Fernando Alonso was nonetheless within the working for the title, on this case, the drivers’ title, in a rain-soaked race at Interlagos. Rationally, the hole between the Prancing Horse and the Woking staff within the constructors’ standings is large.
In actual fact, even a double win with the quickest lap may not be sufficient to surpass the staff led by Andrea Stella. Furthermore, it should be acknowledged that on this aggressive state of affairs, the purpose can be an epic feat, contemplating that within the earlier fifteen editions of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ferrari has by no means crossed the end line at Yas Marina in first place. Though eventually the precise time might come, claiming that it could possibly be this Sunday with a double win will not be so easy.
Briefly, it should be stated that Ferrari will not be accountable for its personal future. It wants important assist from McLaren, which ought to make errors or, usually, fail to optimize efficiency and, consequently, the on-track end result. Traditionally, by way of outcomes, the Abu Dhabi monitor has been troublesome for the legendary Italian staff. Nonetheless, as talked about, this season many predictions have been systematically overturned. For that reason, we ask: is it doable to evaluate the season of the Scuderia independently of the decision of the ultimate spherical?
Ferrari is rising: however defeat by McLaren can be troublesome to simply accept
The judgments on the finish of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will inevitably be influenced by the ultimate standings within the constructors’ championship. For that reason, an evaluation of the season for the Prancing Horse, free from emotional elements, can solely be made on the eve of the final leg of this lengthy season. As all the time, the measure of any result’s practical to the purpose of comparability. If the reference level is final season, the end result for the staff led by Fredric Vasseur can solely be undeniably flattering.
5 wins in a season hadn’t been achieved since 2018 (that yr it was six, be aware). After the primary yr of adjustment, the top of the Sporting Administration took the reins of the Italian staff. This didn’t solely deliver an organizational overhaul but additionally a brand new mindset centered on risk-taking, quite than staying within the “consolation zone.” This transfer allowed the staff to hurry up improvement on the SF-24, with some successes and others much less so, such because the necessary replace launched in Spain.
Regardless of being unable to battle for the drivers’ title, there have been a number of tense moments between Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc which have been resolved because of the expert administration of the French supervisor. If the comparability is with the competitors of 2024, the analysis of Ferrari is barely completely different. The purple staff managed to carry out higher than Crimson Bull, which raced with just one driver for two-thirds of the season. Mercedes was additionally behind, because of the higher consistency of Ferrari in comparison with the Silver Arrows, which might solely shine underneath sure environmental circumstances.
Nonetheless, McLaren’s efficiency step stays essentially the most spectacular in comparison with final season. The robust feeling is that the papaya-colored vehicles are general essentially the most aggressive automobiles on the grid, though 4 groups have been able to profitable a minimum of 4 races. Though the drivers didn’t stay as much as the automotive, the Woking staff is on the high of the standings with ease, and that is the sore level for the Italian staff, as Ferrari might and may have finished higher.
If the staff led by Andrea Stella have been to develop into F1 world champion, the blow can be monumental. We’re speaking a few staff that hasn’t gained a constructors’ championship since Verstappen and Leclerc have been one yr previous. Who would have thought that the historic British staff might obtain such a end result, forward of the Prancing Horse, which, regardless of every thing, had nonetheless proven moments of competitiveness during the last decade? The ultimate judgment: Ferrari has grown tangibly, however a doable defeat by the hands of McLaren can be very painful…