And now Ferrari's turn with the SF24.
While the team's 2023 car proved super-fast over a single lap in qualifying, it could not extract anywhere near the race pace and consistency of the benchmark Red Bull squad. Will the SF24 fix those shortcomings?
In the end, the team managed just a single victory throughout the campaign, thanks to Sainz's success in Singapore.
Ferrari hopes that the developments made to the SF-24 will help it make good progress on this front and reduce the peaky-aerodynamic performance that was one of the key factors that overshadowed its F1 efforts throughout last season.
Ferrari has placed a major emphasis on making its new 2024 Formula 1 car, the SF-24, more predictable and easier for Charles Leclerc and
The upgrades brought during 2023 carried a similar aim but after the summer break, in Zandvoort, Sainz and Leclerc still needed to split their car set-ups to refine the tricky handling.
A shift towards understeer thereafter favoured Sainz before late-season tweaks enabled Leclerc to score four pole positions and three podiums from the final six grands prix.
Ferrari wants to pick up immediately from that improved form as it starts the 2024 campaign.
The new car is a departure in terms of the philosophy employed last year and is hoped to address the inconsistencies of the SF-23.
The traditional red livery is emblazoned with white and yellow pinstripes across its sidepods and engine cover.
While some bare carbon is present, it's far less than has been seen on the designs already released this season.
“This year, we must start off where we left off at the end of last season, when we were consistent front runners, with a view to constantly improving in all areas,” said team boss Fred Vasseur.
“The longest ever Formula 1 season awaits us and Charles [Leclerc], Carlos [Sainz] and I all agree, we must be more cinical and effective in how we manage the races, making bold choices, in order to get the best possible result at every Grand Prix.
It's often said that your fans can give you an extra gear and that will definitely be true in what will be a very closely contested championship and we are proud to know we can count on our “tifosi” from around the world.”
While Leclerc has just signed a new contract with the team, 2024 will be Sainz's last with Ferrari following news Lewis Hamilton will join the team for 2025.
