Ferrari team principal refuses to reveal where they lost key points in F1 title fight against McLaren
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Scuderia Ferrari narrowly missed out on the Constructors' Championship in the 2024 Formula 1 campaign, with McLaren taking the title by just 14 points.
Heading into the final round at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, the Italian side was in second place in the standings, 21 points behind their rivals. This put McLaren in a defensive position at the final race, while Ferrari had nothing to lose in their bid for the championship.
Charles Leclerc faced a challenging weekend, as a battery change during Friday practice resulted in a 10-place grid penalty. The Monegasque driver also struggled in qualifying, failing to make the top 10 and starting near the back of the grid.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur believes the team made progress this season but has refrained from revealing where they lost the critical 14 points.
The French manager has “lots of thoughts” on where Ferrari lost the championship. Ferrari showed strong performance on a variety of tracks with different downforce levels, with the Monegasque driver securing victories in Monaco and at the Italian Grand Prix. After Monaco, Ferrari was 24 points behind Red Bull, who had led the Constructors' Championship early in the season before fading.
Unreliability during the final round of the season slightly hindered Ferrari, and Fred Vasseur would have been disappointed by the lost points at such a crucial time. The team also suffered a double non-finish in Canada, marking a disastrous weekend where the most valuable points were lost. Fred Vasseur noted that the Maranello team did not make enough improvements compared to last year, despite taking the title fight to the final round: "A good [step], but not enough. If you compare with one year ago, it's a huge step forward, and everything is great; we did a good [season] in terms of pitstop, strategy, reliability – we improved everywhere in terms of pure performance.” – the Ferrari team boss explained – "At the end, 14 points are missing and I think if you are 80 or 100 points behind you don't feel the frustration. I have tonnes of thoughts in my mind where we lost the 14 points, but it is like it is. McLaren also had some issues, and it is just that we have to do a better job next year. But also quite proud of the step that we did. McLaren also had some issues, and it is just that we have to do a better job next year. But I'm also quite proud of the step that we did." – the French manager continued.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz both displayed remarkable consistency throughout the season, which played a crucial role in Ferrari’s performance. While the team showed impressive speed at key races, such as Monaco and the United States Grand Prix, McLaren proved to have a faster car overall during the year.
The Constructors' Champions demonstrated exceptional pace, particularly during the mid-season, but Ferrari's car was notably more unpredictable, with peak performance at specific races rather than sustained superiority. This unpredictability, however, did not hinder the reliability of both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who managed to minimize mistakes and consistently score points, allowing Ferrari to build steady momentum over the course of the season.
James Hinchcliffe acknowledged Ferrari's strong showing, pointing out that while the team's performance was impressive, it would be crucial for them to start the 2025 season with an even stronger foundation. The addition of Lewis Hamilton to the team would be a key factor in their efforts to challenge for both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships. With this new dynamic, Ferrari will need to ensure they hit the ground running to effectively compete against the top teams.
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