The passionate tifosi of Scuderia Ferrari always anticipate special moments at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, where the iconic red cars are buoyed by an almost mythical home advantage. Yet, beneath the surface of celebrations and fanfare, this year’s race starkly illuminated fundamental technical limitations lurking within the current Ferrari project, while casting doubt on the squad’s readiness to truly fight for the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship.
Since the introduction of new F1 regulations in 2022, Ferrari engineers have pursued rival teams—most notably Red Bull—in a complex technical arms race. While the SF-24 has at times dazzled with single-lap pace, its true weaknesses were ruthlessly exposed on the ultra-fast Monza circuit, where straight-line speed, aerodynamic efficiency, and stable rear-end grip are crucial.
From the moment practice commenced, Ferrari’s engineers faced a dilemma: balancing low drag for maximum straight-line performance versus maximizing downforce for the circuit’s high-speed corners and chicanes. The red cars struggled with rear instability, prompting Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to relay feedback about tricky handling and a lack of confidence under braking—an echo of persistent complaints throughout the season. Adjustments made to the rear wing and floor components failed to bridge the gap to the frontrunners.
Central to Ferrari’s struggles is the car’s fundamental aerodynamic concept. While their development path has yielded sporadic improvements, the SF-24’s platform suffers from a narrow window of optimal operation—particularly with tire management and aerodynamic consistency. Compared to the dominant Red Bull and even an ever-improving McLaren, Ferrari lacks the flexibility to extract peak performance across a wide range of circuit layouts and conditions. In Monza’s unique environment, this flaw was impossible to hide.
Another concern revolves around top speed and engine deployment. Although Ferrari’s hybrid power unit is among the sport’s most powerful, its integration with the chassis doesn’t deliver the same efficiency as its main rivals. In Monza’s long straights, this meant losing tenths of a second per lap—not just from raw horsepower, but due to the draggy nature of the SF-24’s bodywork. Even with special low-drag wings fitted for the weekend, their pace advantage in qualifying quickly flipped to a race-day liability, with tire wear accelerating and rear grip disappearing as stints progressed.
The technical leadership in Maranello remains under immense pressure to innovate for 2025. The team has experimented with various details—the floor, diffuser, and rear suspension geometry—but admits their current package requires a step-change rather than incremental tweaks. There’s already talk of a new design philosophy, borrowing cues from Red Bull’s underfloor solutions and Mercedes’ aerodynamic breakthroughs. However, translating these innovations into lap time takes months of simulation work and wind tunnel development.
Ferrari fans may find solace in the relentless work ethic and honest self-assessment emerging from the team. Drivers Leclerc and Sainz continue to extract the maximum possible from their equipment, showing flashes of brilliance that suggest the DNA for victory still pulses in Maranello’s veins. But as Monza 2024 so dramatically underlined, bridging the gap to the very top will demand transformational thinking—both on the drawing board and within the race strategy bunker.
Looking further ahead, 2025 represents a make-or-break season for the Scuderia. With Lewis Hamilton poised to join the team and a major regulation overhaul looming in 2026, Ferrari must confront its core technical weaknesses now or risk falling further behind in Formula 1’s next great era. For Hungary’s loyal Ferrari supporters and the global F1 community alike, the next chapter promises both high drama and the relentless pursuit of perfection that defines the Prancing Horse.
