La Civetta December 2024 Issue December 2024 | Page 34

How Ferrari ’ s comeback is defining Britain ’ s Formula One landscape

F errari , the most iconic racing team in Formula One history , has seen an exciting comeback in the 2024 season , re-establishing the Italian team as a major player in the F1 . After a rough start to the season and a challenging mid-season nosedive , Ferrari has improved the technical aspects of their car , the SF-24 , allowing them to catch up with other top teams in this competition . Ferrari ’ s revival is influencing not only the driver rankings but also the often-overlooked Constructors ' Championship .

Defeating a Mid-Season Slump
Mid-season technical difficulties are not uncommon in F1 , but Ferrari ’ s were particularly significant . The Prancing Horse was confronted with understeer and tire degradation earlier this year , leading to poor results in Bahrain and Australia . Ferrari ’ s Team Leader , Fred Vasseur , acknowledged that fixing these technical issues was crucial for the team ’ s title hopes ( Planet F1 ).
Facing serious development challenges early on , Ferrari ’ s engineers took a critical approach , focusing on refining aerodynamic weaknesses and resolving the car ’ s cooling issues . According to Grand Tour Nation , Ferrari ’ s technical problems in tyre management also led to inconsistent results , impacting Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz ’ s ability to secure consistent points , adding to concerns that the team might fall out of the race altogether .
Luckily , Ferrari answered with major improvements , allowing Leclerc and Sainz to move up the rankings . Ferrari ’ s drivers have since proven that they can compete with Red Bull and McLaren , landing Leclerc third and Sainz fifth in the Driver ’ s Championship and putting Ferrari back in the conversation for podium finishes .
The Constructors ' Championship : why is it important ?
A crucial component of F1 is the Constructori ’ s Championship , despite that viewers tend to concentrate on the Drivers ' Championship . The Constructors ' Championship reflects a team ' s overall performance , as opposed individual driver performance : each team ' s ranking is determined by combining the points from both drivers , therefore consistency , teamwork , and engineering excellence are crucial for success . This championship has high importance for F1 teams as it directly impacts sponsors and reputation , whereby winning the Constructors ’ Championship would demonstrate a team ’ s technological ability and increase their visibility .
Ferrari ’ s improved mid-season performance has landed them in second place in the Constructors ’ Championship , as noted by mid-November , is largely thanks to drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz , whose consistent finishes have totalled valuable points for the team . Currently , Ferrari is locked in a fierce rivalry with McLaren , a British team that has also made significant improvements this year . As Scuderia Fans highlight , the Ferrari-McLaren battle is an intense and historic one ; each team fights to solidify its place in the Constructors ' rankings .
Ferrari ’ s Future Prospects : Lewis Hamilton
A major development for the future of Ferrari is the potential move of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton . Hamilton , known as one of the greatest F1 drivers , could be looking for a fresh start with over 10 years at Mercedes , who have struggled to keep up with their earlydecade wins . Despite multiple technical overhauls , Mercedes has yet to identify the cause of their car ’ s underperformance , which has led to several losses . While Hamilton has remained loyal , the limitations of the car and lack of competitive results has led to frustrations allowing him to consider Ferrari , a team on the up .
The attraction of finishing his career with Ferrari , one of F1 ’ s most iconic teams , could be too compelling to ignore . For Hamilton , this move could offer the opportunity to contend for another title ; this pairing adding to Ferrari ’ s celebrated legacy , while also solidifying their objective to return to the top of F1 . Hamilton ’ s skill , with Ferrari ’ s technical improvements , could make for an unstoppable team and further boost Ferrari ’ s standing in both the Drivers ’ and Constructors ' Championships .
What ’ s Next for Ferrari and F1 in 2024 ?
With the F1 season coming to an end in December , fans will have to wait for only a few more races for the result of Ferrari ’ s resurgence . A victory in this championship would highlight the team ’ s resilience and confirm Ferrari ’ s place among F1 ’ s elite teams . Additionally for British fans , Ferrari ’ s redemption adds an excitement to the sport , fuelling a long-standing rivalry with McLaren and sparking conversation on Hamilton ’ s potential move to Ferrari ’ s . As Ferrari ’ s story unravels , this season ’ s fierce competition is a reminder that while driver talent is vital , team performance and strategy are equally important for long-term success .
By Elektra Kirkman ( She / Her ) // Final Year ; Italian and Spanish
Ferrari SF-24 : their 2024 track car Source : Instagram @ scuderiaferrari
Scuderia team celebration stance Source : Instagram @ scuderiaferrari
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