2024 Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team

[Vanja #66]

WCC points, standings after 21 races are as follows:

2004 - 628 total, 34.9 points per race (latest points system, 18 races)

2007 – 500 total, 29.4 points per race (latest points system, 17 races)

2017 – 522 total, 26.1 points per race (latest points system, 20 races)

2018 – 571 total, 28.6 points per race (latest points system, 21 races)

2022 – 524

2023 - 388

2024 – 557

After a weekend that can only be described as very challenging, the team can reflect on a very positive triple-header overall. 2 wins, 2 more podiums, good points in both Sprints and by far the most points won (116 vs 77 for McL, 69 for RBR and 53 for Mercedes). Somehow, I'm quite certain Ferrari put a lot bigger emphasis on Texas and Mexico setup than Brasil setup while they prepared for this triple-header. It wasn't a bad setup in SQ and Sprint, but they put too much stress on tyres. Obviously, track position was crucial again.

As for drivers in this triple-header, Leclerc and Verstappen won 62p each and Sainz is close behind with 54p. In the following 3 races Leclerc and Sainz should be able to add around 50p each on their tally, as 2 races will be favourable and we've seen in Brasil Sprint that good results in Qatar will mostly depend on proper setup. Whether they choose to focus on Vegas and AD instead, to ensure they can fight for wins, will probably depend on simulator data and what they expect of McLaren as main competitors at the moment.

[Vanja #66]

For those that think LEC isn’t good in the rain:

"here i just got stuck cause charles is actually quite decent" - Max

https://i.imgur.com/cso0IvF.gifv

It's beating a dead horse at this point, one time Leclerc had a good Ferrari and the race was wet was Monaco 22 where he was cruising and opened up a 10s gap to Max in something like 15 laps

With Red Bull likely to be weaker in 2026 after the switch to new engines and Newey leaving, Max will certainly be looking elsewhere. Lewis will be there in 2025 and 2026, so Vasseur should already be talking to Max about a potential move for 2027, unless he moves to Aston in 2026 instead of Alonso or a gravel driver. Ferrari have already missed out on Newey, so they shouldn't throw away the opportunity to sign at least one of the best drivers. Together with Leclerc they would have been an unbeatable pair on the grid.

I think everyone is always talking to Max. Regardless, it all depends on how 2025 and 2026 unfold between Leclerc and Hamilton. In case Leclerc outperforms Hamilton like he did with Vettel, Leclerc deserves to be #1 as long as he decides to stay with Ferrari and it would be bad to bring another rooster in just to ensure you have 2 best drivers. I suspect both FIA and FOM would make a huge push against such a move, because they want to have 4-5 competitive teams with top-tier driver in each one of them.

In case it's about equal between Leclerc and Hamilton or Hamilton outperforms him, they should bring Max in at all costs

[jumpingfish]

I think everyone is always talking to Max. Regardless, it all depends on how 2025 and 2026 unfold between Leclerc and Hamilton. In case Leclerc outperforms Hamilton like he did with Vettel, Leclerc deserves to be #1 as long as he decides to stay with Ferrari and it would be bad to bring another rooster in just to ensure you have 2 best drivers. I suspect both FIA and FOM would make a huge push against such a move, because they want to have 4-5 competitive teams with top-tier driver in each one of them.

In case it's about equal between Leclerc and Hamilton or Hamilton outperforms him, they should bring Max in at all costs

Ferrari don't need to worry about what the FIA ​​and FOM want in terms of the teams lineup. Vasseur needs to secure the best combination for 2027 (as good as Lewis is, he will eventually retire) and tie Verstappen's hands with a pre-contract before he goes to a competitor and strengthens them.

Fred also needs to start banging his fists on the table and making a ferocious face when he needs to defend the team's interests. So that we don't have a repeat of 2018, when any mangy street dog could know what's going on inside a Ferrari engine or battery. There haven't been many leaks from Maranello about the progress of the PU for 2026, hopefully it will stay that way. I suppose they've come up with the idea of ​​testing the battery and MGU-K designs in the F80 that can be implemented in a little over a year.

[Vanja #66]

Ferrari don't need to worry about what the FIA ​​and FOM want in terms of the teams lineup. Vasseur needs to secure the best combination for 2027 (as good as Lewis is, he will eventually retire) and tie Verstappen's hands with a pre-contract before he goes to a competitor and strengthens them.

Fred also needs to start banging his fists on the table and making a ferocious face when he needs to defend the team's interests. So that we don't have a repeat of 2018, when any mangy street dog could know what's going on inside a Ferrari engine or battery. There haven't been many leaks from Maranello about the progress of the PU for 2026, hopefully it will stay that way. I suppose they've come up with the idea of ​​testing the battery and MGU-K designs in the F80 that can be implemented in a little over a year.

Vasseur has shown to be very competent and very devoted to his job. He's also one of the most experienced leaders on the grid today, with many close relationships all over the grid. Whatever he feels is the best course of action to improve the team, probably is the best move really. If Max continues to antagonise FIA, British stewards and others, it may be best to keep him away from Ferrari after Hamilton and promote Bearman or bring in Lando or Russell. There were too many seasons of anti-ferrari bias in FIA in the last 15 years and this is something that cost them multiple titles.

[.Bole]

All good but i am not seeing that Vasseur is using any politics power in F1/FIA. Look at just these penalities yestrday whwre we could have benefited more

[Formula 1 fan 1996]

Is it good decision for Hamilton to drive for Ferrari in 2025, considering Mercedes' problems with car in 2024??

[Xyz22]

Our pace in the wet was really bad.

In the first stint we looked better because Tsunoda was blocking Ocon who would have been much quicker in free air than us.

The car suffered from high deg as well, especially regarding rear tyres.

[Sidewinder]

it all depends on how 2025 and 2026 unfold between Leclerc and Hamilton. In case Leclerc outperforms Hamilton like he did with Vettel, Leclerc deserves to be #1 as long as he decides to stay with Ferrari and it would be bad to bring another rooster in just to ensure you have 2 best drivers. I suspect both FIA and FOM would make a huge push against such a move, because they want to have 4-5 competitive teams with top-tier driver in each one of them.

In case it's about equal between Leclerc and Hamilton or Hamilton outperforms him, they should bring Max in at all costs

Exactly this.

[ScuderiaLeo]

All good but i am not seeing that Vasseur is using any politics power in F1/FIA. Look at just these penalities yestrday whwre we could have benefited more

Vasseur's philosophy seems to be "just stay out of it," at least in terms of public comments.

Ferrari has been plagued with periods where they were, often fairly but sometimes unfairly, hit with penalties or technical infringements. He probably doesn't want to draw attention to Ferrari - not because they're doing anything wrong or illegal but because he doesn't want that scrutiny or stress on the team. By all accounts the mood in Maranello is focused and positive; no need to rock that boat that until absolutely necessary. Ferrari aren't in a true title fight just yet.

Red Bull and McLaren are creating a mess between themselves right now. Ferrari can only profit. It's better for Ferrari to keep their heads down and keep working than get involved in paddock politics. If there's anything particularly insane that can be taken advantage of, I'd bet 9/10 times Red Bull is already looking into it.

[Xyz22]

it all depends on how 2025 and 2026 unfold between Leclerc and Hamilton. In case Leclerc outperforms Hamilton like he did with Vettel, Leclerc deserves to be #1 as long as he decides to stay with Ferrari and it would be bad to bring another rooster in just to ensure you have 2 best drivers. I suspect both FIA and FOM would make a huge push against such a move, because they want to have 4-5 competitive teams with top-tier driver in each one of them.

In case it's about equal between Leclerc and Hamilton or Hamilton outperforms him, they should bring Max in at all costs

Exactly this.

No driver has outperformed Vettel and Sainz like Leclerc did despite an insane amount of points lost for reasons outside his control (mainly Ferrari incompetence).

We'll see with Lewis.

[Vanja #66]

All good but i am not seeing that Vasseur is using any politics power in F1/FIA. Look at just these penalities yestrday whwre we could have benefited more

To what end? Restart mess with Norris and Russell isn't worthy of DSQ or any kind of sporting penalty, especially since many other drivers made the same procedural error. As for Russell and Hamilton tyre pressure change after aborted start, they probably argued their case well enough and blamed the mess on restart grid. That's a thing between FIA and the team, third parties are not involved. Appealing that decision would require some substantial new evidence or previous precedent and would likely end up being dismissed in any case. All that effort for 2 more points for Ferrari and 4 more points for McLaren?

Is it good decision for Hamilton to drive for Ferrari in 2025, considering Mercedes' problems with car in 2024??

I thought Serra joined as TD, is Hamilton taking that place too?

[jumpingfish]

Vasseur has shown to be very competent and very devoted to his job. He's also one of the most experienced leaders on the grid today, with many close relationships all over the grid. Whatever he feels is the best course of action to improve the team, probably is the best move really. If Max continues to antagonise FIA, British stewards and others, it may be best to keep him away from Ferrari after Hamilton and promote Bearman or bring in Lando or Russell. There were too many seasons of anti-ferrari bias in FIA in the last 15 years and this is something that cost them multiple titles.

Oh no, Bearman or Norris are not on Verstappen's level at the moment, even taking into account his stubbornness, he will bring more points in one rainy weekend than these two put together.
It's time for Ferrari to mentally prepare for battles for several titles in a row, so they should strengthen themselves in the political arena. If it weren't for Carlos' investigation yesterday, where he got off easy, Ferrari should have blown up a scandal for security reasons over such a light penalty for violating the interrupted start and won back a few points in the WCC. Fred should be hunting for every potential point in the standings with a dagger in his teeth and look several years ahead into the future.
And McLaren shouldn't have left so easily with their flexible wings. If the Red was at the center of this scandal, tons of accusations would have poured out of all the media pages and video broadcasts on Sky, and 7 out of 10 team principals would have screamed about cheating and called for all points to be stripped.
Next, why isn't the safety car at least used at the Italian Grand Prix from the Ferrari model range? Aston Martin or Mercedes cars are no better, so Elkan must correct this omission. Mercedes should be displaced from this role as safety car provider, perhaps leaving this opportunity only for their medical car (more space inside) and during the German Grand Prix.

[dia6olo]

All good but i am not seeing that Vasseur is using any politics power in F1/FIA. Look at just these penalities yestrday whwre we could have benefited more

To what end? Restart mess with Norris and Russell isn't worthy of DSQ or any kind of sporting penalty, especially since many other drivers made the same procedural error. As for Russell and Hamilton tyre pressure change after aborted start, they probably argued their case well enough and blamed the mess on restart grid. That's a thing between FIA and the team, third parties are not involved. Appealing that decision would require some substantial new evidence or previous precedent and would likely end up being dismissed in any case. All that effort for 2 more points for Ferrari and 4 more points for McLaren?

I think that while those are fair points, reality is that had Max not come through the field both those two incidents would have been penalized far heavier or there would have been a very big stink kicked up, they were not penalized only because it made no real difference to Max and Lando's standing.
For all intense and purpose, as far as I'm concerned those penalties were based on the race outcome and not the infringements and that is poor officiating and arguably bias!

[Vanja #66]

Leclerc taking down Tsunoda, Norris and Russell on that mighty restart

[ScuderiaLeo]

Leclerc taking down Tsunoda, Norris and Russell on that mighty restart

He really is a fantastic starter. Aside from the Austria lap 1 incident, I think he's only lost positions on a start once this entire year?

No driver has outperformed Vettel and Sainz like Leclerc did despite an insane amount of points lost for reasons outside his control (mainly Ferrari incompetence).

We'll see with Lewis.

I would be really shocked if Hamilton suddenly found his WDC form again. It's not out of the question but I think Hamilton is a solid pickup for reasons outside of "just" driving. He's extremely popular, personable, and charismatic; he can carry the Ferrari brand for a long time, and do a lot in that respect that literally no other driver can. Him being good on-track is more of a bonus. As long as he brings in consistent points and a win or two, which I'm sure he will, he'll be fulfilling his role.

Leclerc is driving out of his mind this season and provided he doesn't randomly become bad next year, he should be the clearest title contender along with Verstappen. I truly don't think there's a better driver right now than Leclerc other than Max, so he's the only driver I would ever want Ferrari to go out of their way for. Norris, Piastri, Russell would all be sidegrades at best.

The best part about the Hamilton-Leclerc pair to me is that they are both amazing tire managers which means the SF-25 can afford to have a bit more tire wear. We saw yesterday just how great at defending Leclerc is (and multiple other times this year like with Piastri in Zandvoort). He's also really good at starts... as exhibited by the video above.

If the SF-25 fixes the SF-24's qualifying issues and Leclerc (or Hamilton) can snag poles, I imagine we'll be fighting for wins often. The key part is fixing the issues without introducing more... but that's what Serra is for.