Carlos Sainz has candidly admitted that Ferrari’s aspirations for the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship will be determined at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin. As the season enters its final six races, Ferrari sits third in the Constructors’ standings, trailing Red Bull by 34 points and a distant 75 points behind leaders McLaren.
After a disappointing showing in Singapore, where a poor qualifying session derailed Ferrari’s chances of victory, the Italian team remains under pressure. Despite a competitive performance that helped Charles Leclerc win at Monza, Ferrari’s struggles with consistency and the bouncing issues that have plagued their SF-24 chassis continue to raise concerns.
Sainz, aware of Ferrari’s precarious position, stressed that Austin will be the true test of whether the upgrades that helped them at Monza can deliver on a more conventional circuit like the Circuit of the Americas.
“The upgrades have worked well so far, but Austin will be the real test,” Sainz explained. “It’s a more traditional track, and we need to see if our improvements hold up against McLaren and Red Bull. This is where we’ll find out if we’re really back in the fight.”
Ferrari’s hopes hinge on how they perform this weekend and in the upcoming races in Mexico and Brazil. Sainz acknowledged that the next few rounds will decide whether they remain in the title race or fall out of contention.
“If we see ourselves struggling again at more standard tracks like Austin, then our belief in the championship will take a hit,” Sainz admitted. “We’ve been strong at circuits like Singapore and Monza, but we need to prove we can perform at all types of tracks.”
With rivals McLaren and Red Bull bringing significant upgrades to their cars, the pressure is on Ferrari to deliver in Austin. Sainz made it clear that the performance of their SF-24 this weekend will set the tone for the remainder of the season.
“The next few races are crucial. We’ll see how the pecking order shifts with the upgrades our competitors are bringing, but we’re ready to fight,” he concluded.
As Ferrari heads into the Texas showdown, all eyes are on whether they can reignite their title hopes or face another year of missed opportunities.
