Ferrari admits 2024 ‘too early’ to beat Max Verstappen for Drivers’ title

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur claimed that there was still time before the Scuderia could challenge Max Verstappen for the Drivers' Championship.

Ferrari admits 2024 ‘too early’ to beat Max Verstappen for Drivers’ title

Charles Leclerc [L] Max Verstappen [R] (images via IMAGO)

Red Bull has dominated Formula 1 with the ground-effect regulations. No other team has come close to replicating Milton Keynes’ performance so far. Hence, the 2024 season is no exception witnessing Red Bull dominance alongside Max Verstappen. However, the Australian GP was a rude awakening for the team following issues with the Dutchman’s challenger. Regardless, Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur confessed that it is still too early to provide a tough battle to the reigning world champion.

Ferrari went on to break Max Verstappen‘s nine-race win at the Australian GP. Hence, the Italian Constructor has been showcasing promising results from the beginning of the season. Team Principal Fred Vasseur reckoned that winning the Constructors championship was the goal for the Scuderia. However, the Frenchman acknowledged that defeating Verstappen for the drivers’ championship might still be too far for Maranello.

That's the goal. But it's also fighting for the Drivers Championship, although this year is perhaps a bit early for that. But we'll see ...
Vasseur told Italian radio station Rai (H&T: soymotor.com).
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The Italian Constructor had similar promising results during the 2023 campaign as well. However, multiple stability and strategy issues caused the Scuderia to lose crucial points and lose out to Verstappen and Red Bull. Maranello fell behind Mercedes in the standings last season. Hence, Vasseur highlighted that the main task was to understand the challenger well and make the most of it, which was yet to be done by Ferrari.

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No, it is too soon. The task now is to understand the car well and make the most of it, because we have not yet achieved it.
Vasseur noted.

Fred Vasseur emphasizes the need for Ferrari to ‘not make mistakes’

Ferrari is currently looking positive in terms of pace and performance. Talking about the SF-24, Vasseur highlighted that the car was much easier to drive compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the chassis did not give surprises and was better in terms of tire degradation. Hence, the 2024 season could see a redemption from the issues faced by Maranello in 2023.

The new car is easier to drive. It is easier to understand their behavior: does not give surprises, wears tires less and allows us to attack.
Vasseur said.
Carlos Sainz, Fred Vasseur and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari garage.
Carlos Sainz, Fred Vasseur and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari garage. (image via IMAGO)

However, the team principal was not hesitant in accepting how every weekend wouldn’t be similar to Melbourne where Verstappen will retire early from the race. Hence, Ferrari would need to minimize mistakes and showcase a similar dedication to score victories as seen in Albert Park. The Italian Constructor hasn’t made any crucial mistakes yet and has been scoring great results down the season.

But not every weekend will be like Melbourne. What I ask the team is not to make mistakes, improve step by step and maintain the same determination.
Vasseur mentioned.

Scuderia Ferrari will prepare to score similar results during the upcoming Japanese GP. However, the Red Bulls had a highly dominant run during the previous session of the Japanese weekend. Hence, Maranello would have to push extra to repeat its Melbourne triumph in the coming races.

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