Austin will show whether the upward trend is real

(Motorsport-Total.com) – Ferrari goes into the Formula 1 weekend in Austin with mixed feelings. After the recent strong results on street circuits such as Singapore and the high-speed line in Monza, the question arises: Was this real progress or was the SF-24 just a sign of the characteristics of these routes? The Scuderia itself knows that the US Grand Prix could provide an answer.

However, Charles Leclerc, who was consistently in the leading group in the last race, remains cautious before the weekend. “I expect McLaren to be ahead of us and Red Bull should be similarly strong,” he explains.

Leclerc still sees Ferrari as the pursuer, but emphasizes that Austin will play a key role in understanding whether Ferrari has really caught up with the leaders: “Every characteristic of the car counts here. We’ll see if our progress is big enough to fight with McLaren and Red Bull.

Ferrari without updates: actually an advantage in the end?

The Austin track has a diverse reputation and requires good aerodynamics as well as strong engine performance and tire management. Compared to the most recently driven courses, the Circuit of the Americas offers a wide range of challenges. Leclerc highlights that this is the first real test of the updates: “Baku, Monza and Singapore were very specific tracks. Austin, on the other hand, is an all-round track that will give us a clear picture of whether our developments are really going in the right direction.

Carlos Sainz also emphasizes the importance of the race. The Spaniard sees Austin as the most important test for Ferrari so far this season: “I have always said that we can only truly evaluate the results of the last three races when we drive on a classic track like Austin. Here we will see how.” “We really gained a lot from the updates,” said Sainz.

Ferrari is not bringing any parts to Austin, but is relying on the updates that have already been introduced since Monza. “It’s a consolidation of what we already have,” explains Sainz. The stability of the package could play in Ferrari’s hands, especially on a sprint weekend. With only one training session before sprint qualifying, teams looking to test new parts may be at a disadvantage. “It’s much riskier to go into a sprint weekend with new parts. We now know our car better and are therefore better prepared,” explains Leclerc.

Sainz: “Then we can believe in the World Cup”

Ferrari hopes the performance in Austin will provide a clear answer as to whether recent progress has real substance or was just the result of track-specific strengths. Sainz sees this as a crucial point for the rest of the season: “If we are also competitive on traditional tracks like Austin or Brazil, then we can really believe in an attack in the constructors’ championship.”

If the progress is confirmed, Ferrari could not only collect important points this season, but also learn important lessons with a view to 2025. Leclerc underlines the importance of the weekend: “It is important that the updates work here as we want to continue in this direction for next season.”

Nevertheless, Ferrari remains cautious. Leclerc and Sainz know that Austin will be a tough test. “If we see that the other teams are one step ahead again with their updates, the balance of power could shift,” warns Sainz. The team is confident that the data collected from the last races will still provide a clear picture.

Ferrari fans can also be curious: Can the Scuderia in Austin confirm the upward trend, or will the SF-24 fall behind the competition again on classic tracks? Austin will provide the answers – and possibly determine the way forward for Ferrari this season.