Ferrari had a fantastic weekend in Austin, achieving their first 1-2 finish since Australia. They arrived in Mexico with high hopes, believing the track would suit their car perfectly. The SF-24’s great balance and Carlos Sainz‘s impressive driving helped them excel in both qualifying and the race.
Since introducing major upgrades at Monza, the SF-24 has improved significantly. The new floor design allowed for lower ride heights without issues like bouncing. This change made the car more stable and consistent, even if it didn’t create as much peak downforce as before.
SF-24’s Upgrades and Challenges
Ferrari added a new front wing in Singapore to shift the center of pressure forward. This upgrade made the SF-24 competitive with the MCL38 on average tracks. Fans might think these changes make Ferrari a real contender now! The car became faster not only on medium-slow speed sections but also started closing the gap with competitors on high-speed areas.
However, there’s still a challenge: managing soft tires during qualifying. The SF-24 struggles with tire deformation at high speeds, making it unstable. This issue was evident during qualifying sessions in Austin and Mexico, especially for Leclerc. Cold conditions and slippery surfaces add to this problem.
Despite these challenges, Ferrari showed strong performance across various tracks since Monza. In Mexico, their softer setup worked wonders during the race, allowing Sainz and Leclerc to build a significant lead over Norris in third place. The car excelled in slow corners and handled bumps well.
Sainz commented after securing pole position: “I think the upgrades are helping for sure… But in low-speed corners and kerbing around Mexico, I said that we had a good chance.” Yet, he acknowledged Ferrari’s weakness in high-speed corners compared to McLaren.
Ferrari’s Championship Hopes
If Ferrari maintains their recent performance levels, they could be serious contenders for the Constructors’ Championship. Their success in Austin and Mexico helped them overtake Red Bull for second place, especially since Red Bull relies heavily on Verstappen’s results.
Piastri’s recent struggles have affected McLaren’s standings too. If Ferrari plays their cards right in the last four races of the season, they have a shot at something big—even though tracks like Interlagos and Qatar might not favor them due to long corners and high speeds.
Qualifying well will be crucial for Ferrari to compete effectively in these races. If they continue their strong race pace from after the summer break, they could become 2024 Constructors’ Champions. What do you think? Can Ferrari keep up this momentum?
