Ferrari Seek an F1 World Title for the First Time Since 2008

This year’s tightly contested battle leaves Ferrari 36 points behind leaders McLaren, with 147 points still available across the remaining three races. Team Principal Fred Vasseur is confident the team can rise to the challenge, starting at this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

With just 49 points covering the top four teams in the standings, this Championship remains one of the closest in the hybrid era. Vasseur said in the Ferrari preview of Las Vegas: "It’s time for the final triple-header showdown to decide the outcome of this very busy season.

"The last three Grands Prix all involve racing at night in desert locations: we start in Las Vegas, at a very fast street circuit with few corners, several of them being 90-degree turns," explained Vasseur.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix, introduced last year, offers a dramatic stage for Ferrari’s push. The 6.12-kilometre street circuit, which runs along the iconic Strip, is characterised by its high-speed layout, with average speeds of 240 km/h, alongside challenging technical sections. It contrasts starkly with Formula 1’s last outing in Nevada 42 years ago, when races were held at the lackluster Caesars Palace car park track.

Icy nighttime conditions in the Mojave Desert add an extra layer of unpredictability. With ambient temperatures averaging just 15°C, getting tyres and brakes into their optimal operating range will be critical, potentially creating unexpected scenarios during qualifying and the race.

Vasseur continued: "There are plenty of interesting variables, starting with the temperature, that drops considerably at night. It means that getting the tyres into the right operating window for qualifying and the race will be particularly important.

"It’s only the second time we race at this venue, and we can expect a great show, even better than last season’s, which already shone the spotlight brightly on Formula 1.

"For our part, we intend to be fighting at the front, just as we were last year: we know we have the potential to come away with a strong result as long as we ensure we are on top of our game down to the smallest detail."

Ferrari have not won the F1 Constructors’ Championship since 2008, when Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa secured the title for the Maranello team. Their last F1 Drivers’ Championship came in 2007 with Räikkönen’s dramatic triumph.

Heading into this decisive phase, Ferrari’s focus is sharper than ever, says Vasseur: "We have prepared well back at the factory, and Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, and the whole team have been able to enjoy a very short break, ready to go again, more determined than ever.

"We are confident, and we know what we have to do to keep the Constructors’ title fight alive," declared Vasseur, as Ferrari aim to reclaim their place at the pinnacle of Formula 1; the 2024 season finale promises to deliver a thrilling conclusion to a fiercely competitive campaign.