Ferrari had a promising start to their 2024 Formula One season, with Carlos Sainz emerging victorious in Australia and Leclerc securing multiple podium finishes, including a win in Monaco. However, things took a turn for the worse for the Italian team afterwards.
During the Spanish Grand Prix, a major upgrade to the SF-24 car had unintended consequences, causing it to bounce uncontrollably. As a result, Ferrari had to revert to the previous specification until a new floor could be introduced in Hungary.
Despite Leclerc’s impressive performance, finishing second fastest in the Belgian Grand Prix and inheriting pole position due to Max Verstappen’s engine penalty, Ferrari still has work to do. In the race at Spa-Francorchamps, Leclerc managed to secure a fourth-place finish, which became third after George Russell’s disqualification. Although this meant ending the race with a podium finish, Leclerc expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of his SF-24.
In Ferrari’s race report following the Belgian GP, Leclerc stated, “I cannot be too happy with today’s race. We had expected to be on par with Mercedes. On a positive note, we were able to keep the Red Bulls and McLaren behind us. I had hoped for a better result before the break, but I know I gave my all with the car.”
Leclerc’s comments confirm Ferrari’s current form, which he further discussed with the media after the final grand prix before the break. He acknowledged, “I feel like we currently have the fourth-fastest car. The first half of the year was relatively positive for us, but we have been struggling more in the second half, trying to address the issues. During the break, we will recharge and analyze, with the hope of introducing new parts to the car as soon as possible to compete for victories again.”
As of now, Leclerc sits in third place in the 2024 F1 Drivers’ Championship, 100 points behind leader Verstappen and 22 points behind Norris in second place. Ferrari currently holds the third position in the Constructors’ Championship.
Photo from Charles Leclerc Instagram
