The standout performances of Lando Norris in recent weeks have increased the pressure on Ferrari to make a comeback. Red Bull Racing has dominated the Formula 1 scene since the introduction of ground effect technology in 2022. They seemed unstoppable, especially in 2023, when they secured consecutive wins. However, the 2024 season saw Ferrari progress against Red Bull, but McLaren may have already overtaken them in this battle.
Since 2022, Ferrari has been the closest competitor to Red Bull. They were the only non-Red Bull team to win a race last season, with the Spaniard claiming a surprising victory at the Australian GP. However, their performance seems to be declining this year.
McLaren has introduced improvements to their cars in recent races, starting with upgrades for Norris at the Miami Grand Prix and then for Leclerc at Imola. These improvements have shown immediate results, with Norris winning in Miami and coming close to victory in the following race. Now, it seems that Ferrari is in danger of being overshadowed by McLaren in the battle against Verstappen and Red Bull.
At the beginning of the 2024 season, fans had high hopes for Ferrari. The team’s ambitions were solidified with the announcement of Lewis Hamilton joining them in 2025. Additionally, the leadership of their new boss greatly improved the team’s working culture. However, McLaren appears to have gained an edge over Ferrari on the track.
The recent improvements from McLaren have put them ahead of Ferrari in terms of development. Lando Norris even outpaced Max Verstappen in the last two races in terms of pure speed. However, Ferrari is not far behind in the overall standings. Norris is currently only 12 points behind the Ferrari driver in second place. With 17 races remaining this season, Norris has a good chance of overtaking his Ferrari rival.
On the other hand, Ferrari still maintains a comfortable 58-point lead over McLaren. However, this advantage could quickly diminish if Ferrari does not improve its performance and challenge for wins. Furthermore, if Ferrari continues to fall behind, it could affect Lewis Hamilton’s confidence in his future team.
Fred Vasseur, the team principal of Ferrari, will undoubtedly be aiming for a comeback this weekend in Monaco. The team needs to fight for wins against Max Verstappen and even McLaren to remain competitive. However, it remains to be seen if Ferrari will be able to turn the situation around in the coming weeks.
