Ferrari’s 2024 season has taken a sharp turn in Austria, where team principal Frédéric Vasseur admitted his team is “far from their potential” while joking they’re “copying Barcelona”—a reference to the Spanish club’s recent struggles. The comments, made after a weekend where neither Charles Leclerc nor Carlos Sainz finished in the top 10, underscore a team grappling with performance gaps, aerodynamic challenges, and a lack of competitive pace in qualifying and race trim.

With just two races remaining before the summer break, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Ferrari’s failure to translate early-season promise into consistent results has left them 14 points behind Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, a gap that grows more concerning with each race. The question now isn’t just whether Ferrari can close it—but how they’ll do it when their current trajectory suggests they’re still searching for the right formula.

Vasseur’s Joke: Ferrari’s Struggle in One Line

Frédéric Vasseur’s remark about “copying Barcelona” wasn’t just humor—it was a metaphor for Ferrari’s current identity crisis. The team, once the benchmark for performance, now finds itself mimicking the inconsistencies of a club that has spent years rebuilding. “We’re far from our potential,” Vasseur told reporters in Austria. “The extreme conditions don’t help, but we’re not where we need to be.”

His words came after a weekend where Ferrari’s SF-24 failed to deliver in either qualifying or race trim. Leclerc, the team’s sole podium finisher this season, qualified 12th—a position that translated to a 14th-place finish in the race, while Sainz struggled to even finish, retiring with mechanical issues. The gap to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was 1.8 seconds per lap in qualifying, a chasm that has become the new normal for Ferrari.

“We’re far from our potential. The extreme conditions don’t help, but we’re not where we need to be.”

— Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal (Motorsport.com)

How Far Behind Is Ferrari? The Data Speaks

Metric	Ferrari (2024)	Red Bull (2024)	Gap
Constructors’ Championship Points	78	92	14 points
Podiums (Total)	1 (Leclerc, Bahrain)	6 (Verstappen 5, Ricciardo 1)	5 podiums
Fastest Lap in Race	0	4	4 laps
Qualifying Performance (Top 10)	2 (Leclerc, Sainz)	10 (Verstappen, Ricciardo)	8 starts
Race Finish (Top 10)	2 (Leclerc, Sainz)	10 (Verstappen, Ricciardo)	8 finishes

Data as of GP Austria (May 2, 2024) | Official F1 Standings

The numbers paint a stark picture: Ferrari isn’t just behind—they’re rebuilding from scratch. Their aerodynamic package, once revolutionary, now feels outdated against Red Bull’s relentless development. “We’re not competitive in race trim,” Leclerc admitted after the Austrian GP. “We need more performance, and we need it now.”

Leclerc and Sainz: “We’re Not Enough”

Neither driver has been spared from criticism—or self-criticism. Leclerc, Ferrari’s ace, has been the team’s sole bright spot, but even he admits the car isn’t delivering. “We’re not enough,” he said in post-race interviews. “We need to be faster, more consistent. Right now, we’re just not there.”

Sainz, meanwhile, has struggled with reliability and pace. His retirement in Austria wasn’t just bad luck—it was a symptom of a car that hasn’t found its rhythm. “The car is improving, but we’re still not where we need to be,” Sainz told reporters. “We need to find that missing piece.”

“We’re not enough. We need to be faster, more consistent. Right now, we’re just not there.”

— Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver (Sky Sport)

The frustration is palpable. Both drivers have pushed hard, but the car hasn’t responded. The gap to Red Bull isn’t just in lap times—it’s in confidence. Verstappen and Ricciardo know they can win. Leclerc and Sainz? They’re still waiting for that feeling.

GP Austria: Where Ferrari’s Problems Became Clear

The Red Bull Ring is one of F1’s most demanding tracks—a high-downforce circuit where aerodynamic efficiency is key. Ferrari, traditionally strong in these conditions, has instead found themselves struggling to extract performance. Here’s how the weekend unfolded:

1. Friday Free Practice: Leclerc set the 11th fastest time, nearly 2 seconds off the pace of Verstappen. The team admitted the car was “not where it needs to be” in race trim.
2. Saturday Qualifying: Leclerc qualified 12th, while Sainz—despite a strong first sector—struggled in the middle and low-speed corners, finishing 14th. The gap to Red Bull was 1.8 seconds.
3. Race Day: Leclerc started 12th but dropped to 14th after a slow start. Sainz retired with a brake issue, leaving Ferrari with zero points.

The weekend wasn’t just about bad luck—it was about fundamental gaps. Ferrari’s car lacks the top-speed advantage of Red Bull, struggles in low-speed corners, and hasn’t found the race trim balance needed to challenge for podiums.

Two Races Left Before the Summer Break: Can Ferrari Turn It Around?

Ferrari’s next two races—Monaco (May 17-19) and Canada (June 8-10)—offer very different challenges:

Monaco, with its narrow streets and tight corners, could be Ferrari’s best chance to claw back points. If they can qualify in the top 10 and avoid early retirements, a podium is possible. Canada, however, is a high-speed circuit where Ferrari’s aerodynamic limitations will be exposed.

Beyond the races, Ferrari has two weeks in the factory between Monaco and Canada to work on upgrades. Rumors suggest they’re testing new front-wing and floor designs, but whether these will arrive in time remains unclear. “We’re working hard, but we need to see results soon,” Vasseur said. “The summer break is coming, and we can’t afford to waste time.”

Why This Matters: Ferrari’s Identity Crisis

Ferrari’s struggles aren’t just about points—they’re about legacy. For decades, the Scuderia were the team to beat. Now, they’re chasing, and the gap is widening. The question isn’t just whether they can catch Red Bull—it’s whether they can regain their identity.

Vasseur’s joke about “copying Barcelona” was a metaphor for a team in transition. Like the Spanish club, Ferrari is rebuilding, but unlike Barcelona, they don’t have the luxury of time. The window to close the gap is narrow, and every race counts.

For fans, the frustration is palpable. For the team, the pressure is immense. The next two races will determine whether Ferrari can stabilize or if they’re heading for a season of rebuilding. One thing is clear: if they don’t find answers soon, the 2024 season could go down as the year Ferrari lost their way.

Key Questions Answered

1. Is Ferrari really copying Barcelona?

Not literally—but Vasseur’s joke highlights a shared struggle. Both Ferrari and Barcelona FC have faced performance gaps after periods of dominance. The reference was more about humility than imitation.

2. Can Ferrari still win the Constructors’ Championship?

Unlikely. With 14 points behind Red Bull and only two races left before the summer break, Ferrari would need three podiums in a row—a near-impossible feat. Their best-case scenario is second place, but even that requires immediate improvements.

3. What are Ferrari’s biggest weaknesses in 2024?

• Aerodynamic efficiency—Red Bull’s car is simply faster in race trim.
• Top-speed deficit—Ferrari struggles on high-speed circuits.
• Reliability—Sainz’s retirement in Austria wasn’t an anomaly.
• Consistency—Ferrari hasn’t finished in the top 10 in back-to-back races since Bahrain.

4. Will Ferrari bring new upgrades for Monaco?

Possible, but not guaranteed. Rumors suggest front-wing and floor updates are in testing, but whether they’ll arrive in time remains unclear. Ferrari’s development pace has slowed this season, raising questions about their ability to close the gap quickly.