Ferrari’s US Grand Prix Triumph: A New Dawn in F1 Title Chase?

Is Ferrari positioned to overtake Red Bull and McLaren for the F1 championship?

Following a dominant performance at the US Grand Prix, with a first and second-place finish, has Ferrari propelled itself into contention for the F1 constructors' championship?

Securing the top two spots at the United States Grand Prix has ignited Ferrari's hopes of clinching their first F1 championship in 16 years.

Charles Leclerc led his teammate Carlos Sainz to secure a dominant victory at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA), achieving Ferrari's first one-two finish in the United States in nearly two decades. Leclerc's victory was standout, as he took command of the race, moving from fourth to the lead position at the first turn due to an exceptional beginning.

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Ferrari executed their strategy flawlessly, a plan that has been the subject of much scrutiny over recent years. By opting for an earlier pit stop, Sainz was able to overtake Max Verstappen and crossed the finish line with a lead of over 10 seconds ahead of the Red Bull competitor.

Ferrari's remarkable victory, marking their fourth win of 2024, has brought the Italian squad within just eight points of overtaking Red Bull for the second spot. At the same time, Ferrari is lagging behind McLaren by 48 points.

With five main races and two shorter sprint events left in the season, and a total of 250 points available, Leclerc is optimistic that Ferrari can surpass their competitors and secure the much-desired constructors' championship.

“Our goal should be to secure the constructors' championship," stated the 27-year-old from Monaco.

"We're aiming high, but that's our purpose. We'll crunch the numbers as we do every season, but until that time comes, concentrating on our own performance, just as we did over the weekend, is the most productive approach."

"The team and the pursuit of the constructors' championship had a remarkable weekend. Our goal is to replicate this success as frequently as we can, with the hope that by the year's end, when we tally up the results, we will have secured the constructors' championship."

Ferrari has seen promising advancements with their latest improvements, and Sainz, as he approaches his last races with the team before transitioning to Williams, believes that two specific upcoming circuits are likely to favor the SF-24.

"If I were to place a wager, my bets would be on Mexico and Vegas being favorable circuits, reflecting on the previous year," Sainz mentioned. "My assumptions are somewhat rooted in last year's outcomes. This year, however, things appear to have changed slightly.

"I believe Qatar might turn out to be somewhat of a challenging circuit for us, if I had to wager my money again. And then, regarding Abu Dhabi, I'm uncertain about what we might accomplish, but let's wait and see. I'm just hopeful that we can find this speed once more before the season concludes, offering me another opportunity to give it another shot."

In the battle for the drivers' title, a victory that has eluded Ferrari since Kimi Raikkonen clinched it in 2007, Leclerc remains a contender in theory. However, given that he trails Verstappen by 79 points with just 146 points up for grabs in the upcoming races, he is aware of the challenging gap he needs to bridge.

Leclerc confidently stated, "Should we execute flawlessly through to the season's conclusion, our performance, regardless of McLaren's efforts, could indeed secure us the constructors' championship title."

"In my perspective, the situation with the drivers' championship is somewhat distinct. Achieving perfection alone won't suffice; a touch of fortune is necessary to clinch the title, yet we can't simply depend on luck. Securing the drivers' title appears rather improbable, however, I'll maintain hope until it's definitively out of reach… though it's more complicated."

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