Ferrari's 2024 Season: Marked improvement and a fight to the finish

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Ferrari roared back into contention in 2024 to deliver their strongest season in years, thanks to a much-improved SF24 that showcased blistering one-lap speed, improved tyre management, and a race pace that often put Red Bull and its fellow front-runners on notice.

This translated to a campaign filled with podium finishes and five glorious victories, as well as their highest points tally in history.

However, it wasn't all smooth sailing. While Ferrari resolved its car's long-standing tyre degradation issues, a new challenge emerged: warming up the tyres effectively, which hampered qualifying performances at key moments.

Mid-season struggles with a failed floor development triggered a period of inconsistent results until the summer break. Fortunately, a series of performance updates and strategic tweaks helped put the Scuderia back on the right track.

Charles Leclerc was the Italian outfit's standout performer. The Monegasque rediscovered his winning touch, claiming five victories and proving himself a master of tyre management when the car allowed.

His pole in Baku and inspired drive to victory at Monza highlighted his growing maturity and ability to deliver under pressure. Yet, inconsistency reared its head at times, most notably during Ferrari's slump in the summer.

Carlos Sainz, in his final season with Ferrari, remained a reliable force and a consummate team player. His victory in Australia marked an emotional high, and his defensive masterclass at Monza played a key role in his team's emotional home triumph.

Though not as outright quick as Leclerc, Sainz brought steadiness and grit, helping the Scuderia secure critical points in the Constructors' standings.

Despite late-season challenges in Las Vegas and Qatar, where tyre management and on-track battles between Leclerc and Sainz proved costly, Ferrari managed to keep their title fight alive until the final race in Abu Dhabi.

Ultimately, McLaren's strength in the season finale proved too much, leaving the House of Maranello as runners-up in the Constructors' Championship.

But strategically and execution wise, Ferrari showed marked improvement. Gone were the days of infamous blunders; instead, the Scuderia often outfoxed rivals with sharp decision-making, particularly in unpredictable conditions.

Ultimately, Ferrari fell just short, ending the season 14 points adrift of McLaren. Still, their campaign was a testament to progress—a significant leap forward that reignited hope among Tifosi worldwide.

While they couldn't give Sainz the farewell championship he deserved, Ferrari's 2024 effort laid a strong foundation for the future, proving the Prancing Horse is once again a force to be reckoned with.

What's in store for 2025?

Ferrari enters the 2025 Formula 1 season with renewed vigor, and with a potent blend of confidence, momentum and proficiency. Leclerc, Maranello's home-grown hero, welcomes Lewis Hamilton for a seismic driver pairing that has ignited a firestorm of expectation.

The former will be eager to prove himself against the latter, while the Briton will be determined to deny the doubters their moment of vindication and show that even at 40, he still has the speed and tenacity to dominate at the highest level.

Ferrari's 2025 challenger, codenamed "Project 677," will be a completely new design, as confirmed by team principal Frédéric Vasseur, indicating a significant development push by the Italian outfit rather than a mere evolution.

This approach confirms that Ferrari, like other top teams, is committed to maximizing performance in 2025 without sacrificing development for the 2026 regulations.

The Tifosi dream of a return to dominance, and with Leclerc and Hamilton at the helm, next year's campaign promises to be a season of high stakes and even higher hopes. Force!

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