As race week begins again and Imola comes into view, there are a number of important topics we would like to share with you.
Ferrari has been working hard to add former Mercedes duo Loic Serra and Jerome D’Ambrosio to its senior staff, but as they prepare to launch the SF-24 ‘2.0’ Challenger, the likes of Red Bull A warning has been issued. Let’s take a closer look.
Ferrari strengthens senior staff with ex-Mercedes pair
Ferrari’s recruitment drive continues as team principal Fred Vasseur aims to build a team capable of taking on the mighty Red Bulls, with two further key reinforcements with past links to Mercedes secured. ing.
On October 1st, Serra will begin work as Head of Chassis Performance Engineering, while D’Ambrosio will become Deputy Team Principal.
read more – Ferrari announces new senior contract following Mercedes debacle
Ferrari warns that ‘copying’ Red Bull is not enough
McLaren took the first shot at the 2024 F1 Development War in Miami, not missing out on Lando Norris’ first career win in F1. Now it’s Ferrari’s turn at home in Imola.
However, the upgraded SF-24 will reportedly feature Red Bull-inspired sidepods and inlets, and Ferrari has been told by Ziggo Sport Race Café’s Rob van Gameren that the challenger will be “You have to be right from within,” he warns.
read more – Details of Red Bull’s “copy” in the highly anticipated SF-24 “2.0” revealed, Ferrari warns
Can Max Verstappen win the title with Ferrari?
With Dutchman Max Verstappen at the wheel, Red Bull are the clear class in this field, but Imola will be a key test of their dominance after Norris’ heroics in Miami right.
And if Verstappen hadn’t been equipped with a Red Bull car, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown believes Verstappen wouldn’t have won his three titles so far.
read more – “Max Verstappen can only win the title with Red Bull” – McLaren boss gives another shot
Red Bull plans to cancel McLaren’s hopes with Imola upgrade
But while teams like McLaren and Ferrari hope Red Bull will finally come within striking distance, the Milton Keynes-based team arrives at Imola with upgrades of their own.
And according to senior adviser Helmut Marko, this should thwart McLaren’s title challenge.
read more – Red Bull gives major boost to Imola upgrade as McLaren counterattack fails
Andretti GM and “Ferrari and Mercedes” level F1 efforts
As the team prepares to head to Imola, there is another promising player who hopes to join the team in 2026, and that is Andretti.
So far, the answer for F1 is no, but Michael Andretti has highlighted the scale of the effort with General Motors, comparing it to existing works powerhouses Ferrari and Mercedes.
read more – F1 ‘needs answers’, GM Andretti says, ‘comparable to Mercedes and Ferrari’
