The Scuderia is studying updates ahead of Monza: the new floor aims to address rear instability
Race week is back after a three-week break due to the summer hiatus. Formula 1 is ready to return to the track (HERE are the weather forecast and the weekend schedule): the last Grand Prix in Belgium showcased a thrilling and increasingly unpredictable battle at the top, with three teams (or rather, two teams and one driver) vying for victory, while Ferrari lags slightly behind McLaren, Red Bull (Verstappen), and Mercedes.
Expectations aren’t to dramatically change the scenario in the second half of the season. It’s undeniable that many thoughts are already focused on the 2025 Ferrari, the car that, for the first time in his career, will be driven by Lewis Hamilton. It’s crucial to start off on the right foot, as the development of the 2026 regulations could become challenging even before the new era of Formula 1 begins.
Ferrari, a surprising decline: was the championship within reach?
At the start of the season, Ferrari seemed to be Red Bull’s main challenger. However, Mercedes and especially McLaren have made significant progress, positioning themselves today as consistent contenders for victory. It’s no secret that in recent months, the MCL38 has emerged as the best car on the grid.
Mercedes-powered teams, in particular, have shown considerable advancement, exceeding the expectations of many. On the other hand, Ferrari’s performance drop can be attributed to the failed updates introduced in Spain. That update package is largely to blame for the slump following the Monaco Grand Prix win, which had fueled the hopes of the more “optimistic” fans for a potential championship victory this year.
However, the possibilities were there: McLaren proves that with an excellent car and a driver in form, Red Bull and Verstappen are beatable this year. Between internal issues and an RB20 that isn’t on par with its predecessor, Ferrari could have contended for the title with the right updates. This is evidenced by the fact that, despite errors and problems, Leclerc is “only” 100 points away from the top spot.
Few are talking about it, but Ferrari undoubtedly has regrets: given the recent trend of Max Verstappen and Red Bull, the 2024 championship risks being won easily by the Dutchman simply because he hasn’t faced a consistent rival, but rather flashes of brilliance from different drivers and teams race after race.
SF-24, a new floor incoming: no more instability?
Returning to the track, after mitigating bouncing issues in Hungary and Belgium, Ferrari is ready to present a definitive solution this weekend. According to reports from it.motorsport.com, the Maranello team will introduce a new floor. Ferrari’s technical department has made modifications to address the rear instability that has plagued the SF-24 in recent months, aiming to eliminate the issue once and for all.
This would provide both a better foundation on which to build the 2025 car and a more “agile” SF-24 for Leclerc and Sainz to handle. The more confident a driver feels with the car, the easier it is for them to extract its full potential, improving results in what will be a very important second half of the season for the team.
While Leclerc appears nearly out of the running for the drivers’ championship, Ferrari is still very much in the fight for the constructors’ title: Maranello is only 63 points behind the top spot, currently held by Red Bull, who owe much to Max Verstappen and his efforts. It’s undeniable that McLaren is now the favorite, but who knows—perhaps the developments at Zandvoort could help the Prancing Horse climb the standings.
Time will tell, but starting this weekend, we’ll get a first taste of the autumn-winter period that Formula 1 is preparing to face, all in anticipation of a 2025 season that, at least on paper, looks set to be stellar.
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP
