In preparation for the next race in Miami, Ferrari revealed a modified design incorporating blue elements to celebrate their 70 years of presence in North America. Despite Lando Norris’ expectation of being overshadowed by the Ferraris on race day, he surprised everyone by securing a spot on the podium, splitting the Red Bulls. Charles Leclerc led the charge for Ferrari in fourth place, closely followed by Carlos Sainz, both progressing from their initial positions. Leclerc seemed to be on his way to his third podium of the year after overtaking Sergio Perez during a safety car period, but in the end, Perez surpassed him. This change in position allowed Red Bull to extend their lead in the constructors’ championship by 44 points. However, Ferrari managed to equal McLaren’s score with Oscar Piastri finishing in eighth, maintaining a comfortable 55-point difference.
Team principal Fred Vasseur emphasized the importance of keeping perspective after the race, highlighting their significant 99-point advantage over Mercedes, Red Bull’s main rivals in the previous season. In preparation for the next race in Miami, Ferrari announced a modified design incorporating blue elements to commemorate their 70 years of presence in North America. Despite this change, Ferrari’s iconic scarlet red color remains at the core of its identity, as noted by Chandhok’s surprised reaction. Ferrari also made another notable development by securing a sponsorship deal with Hewlett-Packard, following in the footsteps of Red Bull’s partnership with Oracle. This reportedly high-value agreement coincides with the highly anticipated new Ferrari driver lineup, with Lewis Hamilton alongside Leclerc, becoming one of the most notable transfers in Formula 1 history.
With Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, Mercedes may face potential commercial challenges as sponsors closely associated with Hamilton may reconsider their support. On track, Ferrari looks to capitalize on this high-profile addition and compete for their first championship since 2008, ending their long drought for a team of their caliber.
