FERRARI’S TITLE DROUGHT CONTINUES: CAN THE SCUDERIA FINALLY FIND THE MISSING PIECE?
Ferrari has long been chasing a return to the pinnacle of Formula 1, but for over a decade, the coveted Drivers’ Championship has remained just out of reach. Felipe Massa, who narrowly missed out on the 2008 title while driving for Ferrari, believes the iconic team is still lacking a key element that has kept it from achieving championship glory since Kimi Raikkonen’s 2007 triumph.
While Ferrari has oscillated between moments of brilliance and underperformance in the years since, 2024 has been a microcosm of that long-standing struggle. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc have both picked up spectacular wins this season in Australia, Monaco, and Italy, but inconsistency—exacerbated by ill-fated upgrades—has kept the team from mounting a sustained championship challenge.
“They are improving the car, they did some good laps at the last tracks, good races,” Massa told RacingNews365. “I really hope they can do some nice racing through to the end of the season.”
Leclerc’s recent form has been a source of optimism for the Scuderia, with podium finishes at Monza, the Dutch Grand Prix, and Azerbaijan showcasing the car’s pace. However, a poor qualifying session at Singapore dashed Ferrari’s hopes of stringing together another strong result, leaving them still chasing consistency in race weekends.
Despite their flashes of speed, Ferrari’s title hopes for 2024 appear dim. The team currently sits third in the Constructors’ Championship with 441 points, trailing leaders McLaren by 75 points. Meanwhile, Leclerc is third in the Drivers’ Championship with 245 points, but remains 86 points behind the dominant Max Verstappen.
FLICKERS OF HOPE, BUT INCONSISTENCY REMAINS FERRARI’S FOE
Massa, who has remained a vocal supporter of Ferrari since his near-miss in 2008, believes the team is still falling short of the “perfect level” needed to challenge for a championship. “Ferrari has shown they have a good car, they have a good team,” Massa said. “Maybe still missing something to be on the perfect level, to fight for the championship.”
Leclerc’s Monza victory, where he masterfully executed a one-stop strategy, and his podium finishes at the Dutch and Azerbaijan Grands Prix demonstrate that Ferrari has the tools to compete. But it’s the inconsistency—the very thing that cost them in races like Singapore—that continues to hold them back.
LOOKING AHEAD: CAN FERRARI TURN THINGS AROUND IN 2025?
While the 2024 season may end without a title for Ferrari, Massa remains hopeful that the Scuderia will find the missing ingredient by 2025. That year promises to be especially significant, with Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari alongside Leclerc, potentially bringing championship-winning experience to the team.
For Massa, the hope is that Ferrari can fine-tune its performance to mount a serious challenge in the near future. “I really hope they find that missing point soon so they can fight for the championship, especially in 2025,” Massa said.
As Hamilton prepares to don the scarlet red of Ferrari next season, the pressure will be on for the team to deliver the level of excellence that has eluded them for over a decade. With the potential for a powerful Hamilton-Leclerc pairing, Ferrari could finally have the driver lineup and car to end their long-standing championship drought.
The question remains: Can Ferrari find the final piece of the puzzle and return to F1 dominance? Time will tell, but the legendary team—and its passionate fans—will be hoping 2025 is the year the Scuderia’s fortunes turn.
