Car, engine, people: McLaren closes circle, for Ferrari it's a matter of time

12/31/2024 11:01 AM

McLaren is the Constructors’ World Champion for the first time since 1998. The seemingly endless 26-year wait contrasts sharply with the rapid recovery orchestrated by the team led by Andrea Stella, over the past two seasons. The Woking team narrowly defeated Scuderia Ferrari, which in the last round of the 2024 Formula 1 championship showcased a weekend emblematic of its season, where its resilience kept it in contention for victory until the end. The duel between Ferrari and McLaren echoes classic rivalries of the past while bearing the flavor of the future, thanks to the effectiveness of the model established by the FIA and Formula 1.

The Race
In Abu Dhabi, at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, less than a lap was enough to completely change the world championship scenarios. With Oscar Piastri hit by Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc quickly reaching the podium zone, the standings created a situation where the showdown between Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz became decisive for the 2024 Formula 1 title. McLaren appeared less dominant than expected, thanks to a Ferrari team capable of fine-tuning its setup at the last minute after difficulties during the free practice sessions.

The first stint saw a battle of fast laps between the MCL38 and the SF-24. Initially, Lando Norris’s McLaren gained a couple of tenths per lap, particularly excelling in the twisty third sector. There, the Woking car demonstrated its strength in medium-speed corners, slipping less and thus managing the dreaded rear tire degradation. However, as laps passed, Ferrari came alive, with Carlos Sainz gaining ground and even attempting an undercut to put pressure on his rival.

The illusion was unfortunately short-lived for the Prancing Horse, as once the hard tires were fitted, McLaren quickly pulled away. It was a dynamic seen many times this season, with the MCL38 proving more competitive on hard tires and with a lighter fuel load. The checkered flag confirmed McLaren’s victory and world championship triumph, but the narrow margin on a track with various corner types encapsulated the technical balance of its battle with Ferrari, with each emerging stronger depending on the calendar's challenges.

Closing the Circle
The return to championship glory is the culmination of McLaren's impressive growth, a team that less than 24 months ago was languishing at the back of the grid. The team led by former Ferrari race engineer Andrea Stella reaped the rewards of its decision to change its car concept in April 2023, refusing to settle for development projections that would have left it as, at best, the fifth-strongest team with the initial philosophy. Within two months, McLaren became a podium contender, though still far from the completeness needed to fight for the title.

The final maturation occurred this year in Miami, with an aerodynamic package that finally addressed its weaknesses in medium- and low-speed corners, an issue that had plagued the team for years. This was a limitation transcending regulations, rooted in development methodology and an approach that Andrea Stella's team managed to correct. From May onwards, the MCL38 single-seater grew at an unstoppable pace, impressing with development free of side effects in an era where, with ground-effect cars, pushing for performance often compromises balance and drivability.

This success highlights the value of infrastructure investments, starting with the in-house wind tunnel. This key upgrade improved simulation accuracy, simplified logistics, and accelerated development compared to when the team used Toyota's facilities in Germany. Finally, one cannot overlook the winning decision to return to Mercedes engines in 2021 after the struggles with Honda and then Renault. McLaren's world championship cements the Mercedes power unit as the most successful in the hybrid era. In 2021, Mercedes units suffered significant performance losses with increasing mileage, but since then, the Brixworth engineers have worked on reliability to the point of celebrating alongside McLaren at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The best Ferrari in ten years
The regret felt by the entire Maranello team is understandable, accompanied by the awareness that such closely contested championships are often decided by small episodes, which can be claimed by both sides. However, the outcome does not change the assessment of what the new Frederic Vasseur-led course has demonstrated. Ferrari deserves credit for starting the 2024 Formula 1 season with the second-best car on the grid, a position it maintained for over two months. The Italian side suffered from points lost in the summer when the SF-24 single-seater regressed with the return of porpoising following the aerodynamic update package introduced by the Ferrari technicians and engineers in the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. Despite these difficulties, the Maranello team skillfully identified the issue within three Grands Prix and promptly addressed it with the subsequent update package.

In a Formula 1 fought down to thousandths of a second, the greatest quality inspiring optimism for the future is execution ability. Strategies and pit stops are no longer a source of ridicule, but above all, Ferrari has consistently shown the ability to extract the full potential from the car. Rarely has the Scuderia made missteps in setup choices during the 2024 Formula 1 season, or at least less frequently than its competitors.

For Ferrari, a return to championship glory is only a matter of time, especially considering the team is currently undergoing a technical transition. The 2024 Formula 1 campaign marked the start of a conceptual revolution for the car, optimized for race performance rather than qualifying for the first time in years. During the post-season testing session at the Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, the Maranello team had the opportunity to further experiment with the new floor, designed to address the chronic stability issues that have been a concern even before the ground-effect regulations. This underscores how the team is attempting to shift its perspective not only in design but also culturally. In this, a parallel can be drawn with the newly crowned McLaren, which says much about Ferrari's future.

Victory for the new Formula 1
McLaren's return to the top of Formula 1 also certifies the success of decisions made by the FIA in recent years, starting with the cost cap. It should not be forgotten that Woking’s team was on the brink of collapse, far from being able to compete financially with Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull. Another victory is the aerodynamic development handicap system, allocating wind tunnel hours inversely proportional to the standings position, which the team undoubtedly benefited from during its time at the back of the grid.

The success of a customer team is also due to the FIA’s mandate requiring engine manufacturers to supply customers with the same power unit material as the factory teams. Together, these factors contributed to delivering a remarkable spectacle in the 2024 Formula 1 championship, and there is every reason to believe that next year will be even more thrilling.

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