Surprising F1 2024 Insights: Can Ferrari and McLaren Really Challenge Red Bull?
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz puts the spotlight on the tight competition unfolding in the 2024 Formula 1 season, amid Red Bull's continued dominance. Despite the Austrian team's formidable record from the previous year, cleaning up 21 out of 22 races, the gap seems to be narrowing, signaling an intriguing season ahead.
Red Bull indeed started the season as the team to beat, but the once insurmountable lead has been whittled down. Ferrari has snagged two wins, while McLaren marked a triumph in Miami, proving their capabilities. This year’s Monaco GP further underscored the shifting dynamics. Max Verstappen candidly admitted that Red Bull's longstanding issues with managing kerbs were exposed, especially now that the competition is breathing down their necks.
Sainz offers an honest assessment: Red Bull remains the team to beat, especially on traditional tracks. However, the Spaniard believes that Ferrari and McLaren are no longer far behind. He elaborates, “I think my common sense tells me that on normal tracks Red Bull should still be favourites. Domination, like we were seeing, hopefully not. But favourites, yes.”
The battle among the top teams is becoming more nuanced. According to Sainz, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull are nearly on par performance-wise. “Our last reference of a normal track is Imola and Miami. And if I see those two tracks, we seem to be half a tenth behind McLaren and maybe a tenth or two behind Red Bull,” he points out.
Every tiny improvement matters now. The San Marino circuit and Miami race results indicate that minor progress, upgrades, or tweaks could lead to a win. “Any small thing that we bring to the car might switch it to a potential race victory or a winning car,” Sainz notes.
Historically strong at street circuits, Ferrari showcased its strengths again in Monaco. “Monaco, we’ve always been strong. Street circuits like Singapore and last year in Monaco, it shows the strengths of the Ferrari,” he explains.
The time pressure in qualifying rounds can lead to unexpected errors, even for Red Bull. Sainz echoes Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur’s sentiment, stating that Red Bull's missteps in Monaco qualifying demonstrate their vulnerability under pressure. “Max did a mistake in Q3 run two, Checo was out in Q1,” he recalls, showing that even Red Bull faces challenges.
Maintaining proximity on traditional tracks could make all the difference. “Being within 24 points of Red Bull in the Constructors, you see that when you put them under pressure yesterday,” Sainz continues. “Ferrari, we will have our opportunities in these sorts of tracks. I think McLaren will have their opportunities.”
He further adds that more standard European circuits, such as Barcelona, will still see Red Bull as the favorite, but not as dominant as in previous years. And that’s a positive development for the championship. “If they’re favourites, they cannot afford to do any mistakes. And that’s where both Ferrari and McLaren, we can capitalise, which is a position that in Bahrain race one, no one was there to be there.”
A Season to Watch
With teams like Ferrari and McLaren nipping at Red Bull’s heels, the 2024 F1 season promises plenty of excitement and unpredictability. Every race could bring new developments and shifts in power dynamics, ensuring that no team rests easy. So, fans and experts alike will be glued to their screens, watching how this thrilling season unfolds.