Red Mist: Imola & Jeddah. Why not a Ferrari double for Easter?

1 September 2024. Out of nowhere, Charles Leclerc pulled off a magical Italian Grand Prix win at Monza. He made his tyres last to outfox McLaren and score a shock home victory. Wonderful. Six hours later, Robert Kubica, Robert Shwartzman and Yifei Ye were well on their way to winning the Lone Star Le Mans WEC round at Austin, Texas.

Not many manufacturers can boast such a double win on the same day in the two most significant circuit racing categories on the planet. It wasn’t possible in the old days. Back then, the same drivers who raced in Formula 1 drove sports cars too. Today, drivers stick to one or the other, so F1 and WEC date clashes make such a scenario possible.

Which makes it possible for the occasional double F1 and WEC victory on the same day. So far, something only Ferrari has achieved. Aston Martin and Alpine can do the same, but they still need to win in the WEC—and Aston even in F1, to be clear. McLaren will try too, soon. For now, it’s our Scuderia who can make history.

Anyway, a Formula 1 win may be harder to pull off this weekend. But then, nobody saw where Charles came from at Monza last year, did they? What a wonderful day!

Taking a closer look at our Grand Prix form, it’s back on the right track, it seems. There were some odd strat calls at Bahrain last week. But the same could be said about most of the teams. The pace was better, though.

Those interim upgrades seemed to work. We came out better than most ever expected at Sakhir. Jeddah is another wildcard, though. And it’s been known to toss a few jokers. Go on, Charles and Lewis, pick a couple up.

Our WEC form is exceptional. Maybe too good. One race, three cars and a Qatar 1-2-3. And that race is at home tomorrow, a stone’s throw from Maranello. Last double, one leg we won at home. It would be good for the home shoe to be on the other foot this weekend!

Anyway, it’s good to dream. But dream, we did—at Monza last year, at Qatar last month, and in China on Saturday two weeks ago. Those came true. So let’s dream on, shall we? Forza Ferrari!