55 Points in the United States and 41 points in the heart of Mexico City. Add the results together, and the prancing horses have now made the bid for the 2024 Formula 1 Constructors Championship. Overtaking Red Bull for second place now seats Ferrari just 29 points behind the Papaya team of McLaren. The championship hunt is well and truly on.
The last time the Scarlet Red team held the Constructors Championship trophy was in 2008, even though the team could not seal the Driver’s Championship glory. Ferrari driver Felipe Massa was beaten by McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton by one point in the final round of the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
In 2024, Ferrari has the opportunity, after two consecutive races accumulating 96 points, to take the fight to Red Bull and McLaren to achieve what they have been seeking to claim for 16 years: the Constructors Championship.
Ferrari Was Last Constructor Champions Back in 2008
Embed from Getty ImagesThe two drivers who sealed Ferrari’s ambition for their 16th Constructors Championship were Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen. With eight wins, Ferrari thwarted their rivals, McLaren, by 21 points. This made their final race of the season even more crucial, as it was not about Ferrari or McLaren. It was Felipe Massa versus Lewis Hamilton who could clinch their first-ever world title.
After the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix, the Ferrari team’s mood became frosty as they missed out on clinching both titles. But since their fight for the Constructors Championship in 2008, the Scarlet-Red team has not created any Championship success.
Ferrari’s Best and Worse Season After 2008
Embed from Getty ImagesFerrari’s pursuit of championship success has proven bittersweet over the years, but it has also produced some extraordinary highlights and some very poor results for the team, starting in 2009.
2009 (Worse Season Since 2008)
According to Autosport, the new regulations included a “cut back on all of the ancillary aerodynamic devices.” However, Ferrari’s F60 car did not suit the new regulations, as the drivers could only muster 71 points compared to Red Bull, who scored 153.5 points, and the 2009 Constructors Champions, Brawn GP, with 172 points.
The Scarlet Red team finished fourth, just behind last year’s rivals, McLaren, by only one point. The team could only clinch a race win at the 2009 Belgium Grand Prix, thanks to the ‘Iceman’, Kimi Räikkönen.
2018 (Best Season Since 2008)
71 Points for 2009? Well, how about 571 points for 2018? Stepping away from the V8 engines and onto the Hybrid Era of Formula 1. A new dimension of regulations was introduced in which Ferrari was so strong but was once again far away. This time, reigning Constructors Champions, Mercedes. who scored 655 points.
The SF71-H was at the helm of the charge, and their drivers? Four-time champion, Sebastian Vettel and 2007 champion Kimi Räikkönen. The team took six wins of the season, five more to add to Sebastian’s tally. Kimi Räikkönen won the United States Grand Prix, which would be his final race win in Formula 1.
Ferrari’s Current Run of Form in 2024
Embed from Getty ImagesAt the beginning of the 2024 season, Ferrari was seen as the second-best team on the grid to Red Bull. But as the Formula 1 season draws to a close, McLaren has now trumped the Milton Keynes-based team and Ferrari.
So far, Ferrari has accumulated five race wins and 13 podium finishes, all of which have contributed to 534 points—just 36 points away from its best result in 2018.
But it is all well said and done, but for the Ferrari, this is an opportunity to leave Red Bull in the rearview mirror and chase after the Papaya team of McLaren take their 17th Championship as a team.
With 120 points left, it is anyone’s guess as to who will triumph with four rounds left of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship.
If you would like to learn more news about the world of Formula 1? Then why not check out “Mexico Grand Prix: Home to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez” or “Ferrari Are In The Hunt For World Championship Glory”
