Fred Vasseur’s squad finished just 14 points adrift of McLaren in last year’s standings. For reference, that equates to just 0.12% of the points available over the course of the season.
Inevitably, Vasseur will look back on the moments that cost his team the title. For instance, they suffered four DNFs, including a double retirement at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Red Bull looked set to cruise to another championship after winning four of the first five Grands Prix with three one-two finishes.
But when they lost their way, it was McLaren rather than Ferrari who took full advantage.
Christian Horner feels McLaren’s rise was ‘unfair’, suggesting they didn’t operate completely within the rules.
They had to modify their ‘mini DRS’ rear-wing design following the Azerbaijan GP in September, with rivals calling it illegal both in public and in private.
Ferrari were less vociferous than Red Bull in their complaints, which meant Vasseur retained a good relationship with counterpart Zak Brown. But that doesn’t mean they’re satisfied with the FIA’s governance.
This May, the FIA will introduce a new technical directive tightening the regulation of F1’s front wings. They’re trying to prevent excessive flexibility, which is aerodynamically advantageous.
Ferrari and Red Bull were ‘well-prepared’ for the upcoming changes, according to The Race. But they aren’t ‘entirely happy with the way that everything has played out’.
They want to know why the FIA didn’t take the same actions last season.
The two teams lobbied for ‘increased monitoring’ during the summer break, and there was talk that the FIA would introduce a crackdown from the Singapore GP.
But this never materialised, for ‘unspecified reasons’. McLaren, seen as the main beneficiaries of the loophole, were potentially able to gain an advantage in the final quarter of the season, and they could retain it in early 2025.
The competitive landscape in the 2025 season could shift considerably when the new directive comes in. The teams do at least have time to draw up a plan.
Hamilton has an outside chance of winning an eighth world championship this year. Ferrari should be contenders, but Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc are arguably better-placed.
Verstappen is unbeaten since the end of 2020, Norris may have the quickest car, and Leclerc is already deeply embedded within Ferrari.
Giedo van der Garde says Hamilton can improve in qualifying by studying his new teammate.
One journalist believes Hamilton won’t ‘enjoy’ the unique media scrutiny that comes with racing for Ferrari. But as the sport’s biggest name, he’s ‘well used to dealing with it’.
