Ferrari’s Bold Strategy for 2024: A Complete Car Overhaul to Reclaim F1 Glory

Ferrari is set for a major shakeup in the 2024 Formula 1 season, with Team Principal Frederic Vasseur announcing a drastic overhaul of 95% of the car’s components. This move is a direct response to the team’s underwhelming performance in 2023, where they secured only a single victory and finished third in the Constructors’ Championship.

Key Takeaways:

• Significant Component Overhaul: Frederic Vasseur, the Team Principal of Ferrari, has declared that the team’s 2024 F1 car will undergo a dramatic transformation, featuring “95 per cent” new components. This announcement is scheduled to coincide with the car’s unveiling on February 13.
• Reaction to a Challenging Season: Ferrari’s decision to revamp its car follows a difficult season where the team only managed one win at the Singapore Grand Prix, significantly lagging behind dominant rival Red Bull Racing.
• Optimistic Outlook for the Future: Despite the setbacks, Vasseur remains optimistic. He reflects on the challenges faced during his initial year and the team’s steady progress, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and innovation to stay competitive.

Ferrari’s strategy to revolutionize its Formula 1 car for the 2024 season is a bold move, especially after a year that fell short of expectations. Historically a powerhouse in Formula 1, Ferrari’s slip to third in the Constructors’ Championship was a wake-up call, considering their aim to compete for the title. Red Bull’s overwhelming success, clinching 21 out of 22 races, underscored Ferrari’s need for significant changes.

Frederic Vasseur, in his inaugural year at the helm of the Maranello-based team, faced a myriad of challenges. Reflecting on the season, he noted the team’s slow start, especially in Bahrain and Australia, where Ferrari’s performance was disappointingly weak. Contrary to the anticipated strong opening, Vasseur found himself reassessing the team’s strategy and execution early on. He shared his experience with the media, discussing the learning curve and the adaptations he had to make in his new role:

“One year ago was quite a challenge because I joined quite late. It was a huge wave of things to manage, to understand and to discover in a couple of weeks.

“It was four weeks before the launch and five or six weeks before the Bahrain race [when I joined].

“But now I think it’s a much more comfortable situation. I know almost everybody in the company, the system, I have a better understanding of this. I think I’m doing a good job, a better job than last year, let’s say.

“We need to keep the momentum and I think that even if the last part of the season went pretty well. It’s never enough and we don’t have to stop this.”

Vasseur’s candid reflections reveal the inner workings of a team in transition. His observations about Ferrari’s public perception versus the actual internal dynamics provide a unique insight into the storied team. He continued:

“Everybody told me that ‘you will see at Ferrari that you start the season very well and then it’s going down’.

“And trust me, after Jeddah or Melbourne, I said ‘what the f***? If this was the good part of the season, we will be in big trouble’.

“The perception that you have from an external point of view of Ferrari is probably wrong.

“When I was outside, I was always thinking that the team would overreact to every single event.

“But the team was very, very calm after Melbourne. We were cautious of the situation and the weakness of the car.”

Vasseur’s commitment to a significant revamp for the 2024 season underscores Ferrari’s dedication to reclaiming their top-tier status in Formula 1. His closing statement encapsulates the team’s forward-looking perspective:

“I don’t know if revolution is the right word. We have the same regulations now three years in a row that you can’t change massively. It’s a matter of tenths of a second.

“For sure, we have to do a step on that, we don’t underestimate the step. We are changing 95 per cent of the components, perhaps you can consider that it’s a revolution, I don’t know if it will be.

“The expectation is that we are focused on ourselves, we are doing a good step forward. But in the end, it’s always a matter of comparison, you can improve by 100 steps but if the others are improving by 120 you will look stupid.”

In summary, Ferrari’s overhaul for 2024 is not just a technical shift, but a symbol of a team evolving and adapting to the dynamic world of Formula 1 racing.