Ferrari’s long quest for a Formula 1 championship hit another roadblock in 2024 as McLaren edged them out by a mere 14 points to claim the Constructors’ title. Team boss Frederic Vasseur has pinpointed Ferrari’s mid-season slump, which he claims squandered “80 or 90 points,” as the critical factor in their title loss, overshadowing their substantial year-on-year improvement.
A Season of “What Ifs” for Ferrari
Ferrari showed glimpses of championship potential throughout the season, improving significantly compared to 2023. The team logged four more victories, 13 additional podiums, and a massive 246-point increase in their total haul. Yet, despite these gains, they came up painfully short.
“A good one, but not enough,” Vasseur admitted post-race in Abu Dhabi. “We improved everywhere—pit stops, strategy, reliability, even pure performance. But when you lose by 14 points, you look back at countless races where those points slipped away. That’s where the frustration lies.”
The Turning Point: A Misstep in Spain
Ferrari began the year as Red Bull’s closest challenger. However, an upgrade package introduced in Spain proved disastrous, causing the car to suffer from severe bouncing issues. The Scuderia endured a rocky summer, falling behind McLaren as they scrambled to correct their development misstep.
Vasseur highlighted this stretch as pivotal:
“We had three or four races with the upgrade where we struggled. That period alone cost us 80 or 90 points compared to McLaren.”
Among those setbacks was the double-zero result in Canada—a race that had promised significant points—and a string of disappointing performances through Austria and other mid-season rounds.
A Resilient Recovery
Despite the mid-year chaos, Ferrari mounted an impressive comeback. Updates introduced at Monza and Singapore revived the SF-24’s competitiveness, allowing Ferrari to secure three victories in the final nine races. Vasseur praised his team’s resilience, saying:
“To react when you are in the s**t, like we were after Spain and Austria, is crucial for the future of this team. It’s these moments of recovery that build trust and strengthen the foundation.”
Lost Opportunities and Tactical Missteps
While Ferrari’s recovery kept them in the fight, there were still moments where the team left valuable points on the table. Vasseur pointed to underwhelming weekends such as Baku, where Charles Leclerc secured second but could have done better, and Singapore, where both cars struggled in qualifying and finished outside the top eight.
“My job is to minimize these losses,” Vasseur acknowledged. “McLaren had their issues too, but they capitalized better when it mattered.”
Ferrari’s Strengths and Weaknesses in 2024
In comparing Ferrari’s season to McLaren’s, Vasseur downplayed the idea that outright car pace was the primary differentiator.
“McLaren perhaps had an edge in qualifying, while we were stronger in race conditions. It was very close overall,” he said. “The title was decided more by circumstances than by pure performance.”
While Vasseur admitted that a slightly faster car would have helped, he emphasized that Ferrari’s ability to respond to setbacks proved their mettle.
Looking Ahead: Building on Lessons Learned
Despite the bitter defeat, Vasseur remains optimistic about Ferrari’s trajectory. He emphasized the importance of their resilience and adaptability, calling the team’s turnaround a testament to their potential for the future.
“This season has shown that we can improve, but we must execute perfectly in 2025,” he said. “We need to carry this trust and determination into next year and beyond.”
Ferrari’s battle with McLaren in 2024 marked their first championship showdown since 2012. While the Scuderia fell short, their renewed competitiveness offers hope that their 16-year title drought might finally end soon. For Ferrari fans, the message is clear: the fight is far from over.
