This 2024 in Formula 1 is being anything but predictable, and it seems that the balance of power in the highest category of motorsport could be redefined. At the Miami Grand Prix, Ferrari and McLaren showed that they are ready to fight Red Bull, which has been the undisputed king of the tracks in recent years.
Frédéric Vasseur, the boss of Ferrari, has expressed great optimism in this regard. The Frenchman, seeing that there is less and less ground between the team and its pursuers, has highlighted the progress and potential of his and McLaren’s team in future races.
Lando Norris’ victory in Miami, which represents his first win and Red Bull’s second defeat this season, is a clear indication of this change. After dominating almost all of last year’s races – practically all of them by Max Verstappen – Red Bull has seen its lead shrink.
Vasseur has acknowledged that he believes that “Red Bull still has a small advantage” but “we are getting closer.” Thus, he has celebrated that the energy team feels his breath on the back of his neck: “The fact is that, in the end, they can feel pressured. I think it’s been like this since practically the beginning of the season.”
Although the current x-ray is incomplete as a small part of the calendar has been held, it can already be seen that this season will not be the same as in 2023. Back then, no one could cough up Red Bull; However, this year they have already lost two races: “It is an opportunity for us, because if we manage to take another small step forward we will be able to fight with them every weekend.”
Ferrari and McLaren are adjusting their strategies and improving their cars at an impressive speed. According to Vasseur, Red Bull is not knowing how to counter it. “They have to be more aggressive in their strategy, they are no longer in the comfortable zone of last year. I think there has been a game change in the management of the race,” commented the French manager.
In addition, Vasseur has had good words for McLaren, the other team that stands up to Red Bull. The British knew how to take advantage of the opportunity that the Safety Car gave them in Miami for Lando Norris to add the first victory of the season: “It has brought an evolution this past weekend, but if you look at the last races, they were always there. I think it will be like that for the rest of the season.”
In view of the fact that the performance gap between the leading teams has narrowed considerably and Verstappen’s dominance is no longer unquestionable, the Ferrari boss has been clear: “I think that we, and McLaren, will probably catch Red Bull.”
