Vasseur confidently says they'll have a competitive weekend in Belgium.

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Following their impressive wins in Melbourne and Monaco, Ferrari ignited a wave of enthusiasm within the Formula 1 community with the resounding declaration that "Ferrari are back." The team's renewed vigor and competitive spirit posed a formidable challenge to Max Verstappen and Red Bull, injecting a fresh sense of excitement into the racing season. However, the euphoria that enveloped Charles Leclerc's hometown after those momentous victories has since dissipated, giving way to a stark reality for the Reds.

Despite their promising start, Fred Vasseur's team has encountered a series of setbacks in the subsequent five race weekends, resulting in a disappointing accumulation of only 70 points. This downward spiral has caused Ferrari to slide down to P3 in the 2024 F1 Constructors’ Standings, marking a significant shift in their fortunes within the fiercely competitive racing landscape.

As the season progresses, the once-dominant Ferrari outfit finds itself grappling with challenges and striving to regain its momentum amidst fierce competition from rival teams. The rollercoaster journey of Ferrari in the 2024 Formula 1 season serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictable nature of motorsport, where triumphs can swiftly turn into tribulations, and resilience becomes the defining trait of champions.

McLaren, on the other hand, showed impressive consistency and performance, scoring 184 points in those same five races, which bumped Ferrari down to P3. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have been instrumental in McLaren's success, picking up the baton and winning races, including a significant one-two finish in Hungary, which was a big haul for Zak Brown’s team.

Despite Ferrari's efforts with updates in Hungary, the pecking order in the Formula 1 grid seems largely unchanged, with Ferrari likely settling into fourth place after Budapest. However, there is optimism surrounding the upgrade package set to debut at Spa, hinting at a potential resurgence for the Italian team. Meanwhile, Mercedes has also shown a resurgence in form, rediscovering their race-winning capabilities, further tightening the margins at the front of the grid among the leading teams.

Despite this, Fred Vasseur, the team principal of Ferrari, is optimistic about the Scuderia's chances as they approach Round 14. “The Belgian Grand Prix will round off what has been a particularly busy July for the team at the track and everyone back in the factory in Maranello.

“The Spa-Francorchamps circuit will allow us to verify if we have done a good job over the past few weeks to mitigate the side effects in high-speed corners of the update package we introduced recently. The porpoising effect was very low at the Hungaroring, thanks to the evolution of the floor we introduced in Budapest and now we will see if we have fixed it at high-speed tracks too.

“Charles and Carlos have always gone well at Spa, Charles taking his very first F1 win here in 2019 and it’s a circuit where driver skill can really make a difference.

“If we provide them with an SF-24 that they can comfortably push to the limit, I believe we can have a competitive weekend and bring home plenty of points,” Vasseur concluded during the Ferrari media preview of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.