Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc believes the upcoming races, starting with the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, will determine whether Red Bull can truly remain in the title race amid a tough 2024 season. With six races remaining, Red Bull has faced a sharp decline in form, failing to secure a victory in the last eight GPs and surrendering control of the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren. As the battle for both titles intensifies, Leclerc views the next race as a critical indicator of Red Bull’s competitiveness.
Leclerc himself has enjoyed a resurgence since the summer break, with Ferrari finding form after a challenging mid-season. The Monegasque driver secured a podium at Zandvoort, won at Monza, and finished second in Baku, showcasing Ferrari’s improvements. However, Red Bull remains a looming threat, with Max Verstappen still leading the Drivers’ Championship despite the team’s recent struggles.
Reflecting on Red Bull’s performance at the Singapore GP, where Verstappen finished between the two McLarens, Leclerc suggested that the upcoming race in Austin will reveal whether Red Bull’s slight improvement was a fluke or a sign that they are back in the title fight.
“[It] depends on their next race,” Leclerc said. “They’ve been a bit up and down in the last few races, but it’s also true that the last few races have been a bit more specific in terms of car characteristics.”
Red Bull currently sits third in the Constructors’ standings with 475 points, trailing McLaren by 41 points and leading Ferrari by just 34 points. Meanwhile, Verstappen holds a 52-point lead over Lando Norris in the Drivers’ standings, with Leclerc a further 34 points behind in third. Despite the gap, Leclerc remains cautious about ruling Red Bull out of the title race, noting, “I’ve never ruled [Red Bull] out, and I’m sure they will be strong until the end of the season.”
Ferrari’s championship bid has been bolstered by their improved form in recent races, especially after struggling in the middle part of the season. A poorly executed upgrade at the Spanish GP in June caused bouncing issues with the SF24, costing Ferrari valuable points. Leclerc admitted that just a few races ago, the team didn’t expect to be in such close contention for the title.
“At the beginning of the season, I think we all thought, after the first two, three races, that Red Bull will walk away with the title as easily as last year,” Leclerc said. “Then McLaren came and managed to do a big step forward and we’ve kind of maximized most of our season, apart from three races after Canada where we struggled a lot as a team.”
Leclerc credited Ferrari’s ability to consistently maximize their results, even when not having the fastest car, as key to staying in the fight. With the championship now wide open, Leclerc believes consistency will be the deciding factor in the final rounds of the season.
“So we just need to keep doing what we do, and hopefully at the end of the year, consistency will pay off,” Leclerc concluded, signaling Ferrari’s intent to keep pushing as the season nears its climax.
