On the finish of the 2024 Method 1 Mexican Grand Prix, Ferrari overtook Purple Bull within the constructors’ standings. Now, even the numbers level to the Italian facet as McLaren’s major challenger, confirming what has been obvious on monitor because the Italian Grand Prix firstly of September. In simply two weekends, Ferrari has scored ninety-six factors in comparison with McLaren’s fifty, lowering the hole between the 2 groups to twenty-nine factors. The Maranello crew can now not cover, even when tam principal Frederic Vasseur would favor the highlight to stay on the Max Verstappen – Lando Norris rivalry; Ferrari will compete for the Constructors’ Championship.
It received’t be simple, as that is additionally very clear. Technically, McLaren stays a troublesome opponent with a automobile that may deal with each sort of monitor and situation, however the technical steadiness that has taken form because the summer season break has created a state of affairs the place the entire bundle makes the distinction. The outcomes achieved by Ferrari between the USA Grand Prix in Austin and the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix aren’t attributable to a dominant automobile however somewhat an aerodynamic bundle that has labored to perfection.
Throughout final Saturday’s qualifying session, McLaren’s Lando Norris doubtless had the quickest automobile, however Carlos Sainz put all of it collectively, setting the stage for his victory twenty-four hours later on the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico Metropolis. The identical occurred on the Circuit of the Americas in Texas one week in the past, the place Charles Leclerc’s textbook begin (together with the now ordinary skirmishes between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris) created the right situations to dominate the race. Ferrari crew principal Frederic Vasseur confirmed that the Maranello crew now had significantly better management over varied conditions in comparison with the start of the 2024 Method 1 season, noting enhancements in pit stops and techniques. The French supervisor acknowledged that whereas a robust tempo from the automobile made every little thing simpler, the crew had carried out properly total in the course of the Mexican weekend.
Reflecting on the Singapore Grand Prix, the Scuderia’s crew principal recalled feeling annoyed on the flight again, sensing they’d left worthwhile alternatives on the desk. He felt there had been potential to compete for pole place, and ranging from the entrance may have modified the result. Nonetheless, he additionally identified that aiming excessive required each a aggressive automobile and efficient weekend administration.
In Mexico Metropolis, Ferrari left 4 factors on the desk in its direct confrontation with McLaren, necessary factors that will have been gained if Charles Leclerc hadn’t made an error on the finish of the race exiting the Peraltada. Frederic Vasseur didn’t take properly the habits of some lapped drivers, which price the Monegasque a number of seconds in the course of the a part of the Mexican Grand Prix when Lando Norris was simply 4 seconds behind the Ferrari man.
Frederic Vasseur famous that whereas an unfortunate lapping can happen, spending 5 corners behind a driver who sees blue flags shouldn’t be merely dangerous luck however somewhat an error on the a part of the motive force failing to provide approach. He defined that Charles Leclerc misplaced each time and, extra critically, tire temperature in that section, which allowed Lando Norris to shut the hole.
Every part could make a distinction. Ferrari proper now has a superb automobile but additionally two drivers who, by way of contribution to the crew, are undoubtedly essentially the most in-form pair, and the shut contest between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris may also work within the Scuderia’s favor within the Constructors’ Championship battle. Frederic Vasseur doesn’t need to depart something to likelihood; Ferrari will head to São Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix and Las Vegas with the notice of contending for a the race victory and even the difficult Qatar circuit shouldn’t be for use as an excuse.
The Ferrari crew principal acknowledged that, on paper, the Losail circuit was not the most effective match for his or her automobile; nonetheless, he famous that predictions in Mexico had equally not anticipated them to contend for pole place. The French supervisor believed that every little thing remained open and emphasised that performing properly throughout your entire weekend can be much more vital in Qatar. Though unsure whether or not they would compete for first, third, or fifth place, he careworn the significance of doing their utmost to attain the absolute best lead to that weekend as properly.
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