McLaren has acknowledged that Ferrari’s 1-2 finish at the United States Grand Prix wasn’t unexpected, as the Italian team had been underperforming in recent races. According to McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella, Ferrari had not been fully exploiting the potential of their SF-24 car in earlier events, which made their dominant performance in Austin less surprising.
Charles Leclerc took the lead from the start and controlled the race, securing victory ahead of his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz. This marked Ferrari’s second 1-2 finish of the season, rekindling their championship hopes as they close the gap to McLaren, trailing by 48 points with five races remaining.
Although Ferrari’s commanding race pace at the Circuit of the Americas caught some by surprise, given McLaren’s advantage since the summer break, Stella noted that Ferrari had shown flashes of their competitiveness. Leclerc was particularly strong earlier in the season, notably in Baku and Singapore, but failed to capitalize on key moments.
Ferrari’s Untapped Potential
“I think Ferrari’s competitiveness has been clear for some time now,” Stella said, speaking to the media, including *Motorsport Week*. “They’ve been quick in recent races but haven’t maximized their potential. In Baku, Leclerc was in a strong position to win but missed out. In Singapore, we expected him to compete for pole, and that could have changed the race result.”
Stella believes Ferrari’s recent results have overshadowed their true pace, with mistakes or misfortune hampering their efforts. “We’re not surprised they are back to this level,” he added, acknowledging the consistent speed Ferrari has demonstrated despite not always securing victories.
McLaren’s Struggles at COTA
McLaren, meanwhile, found themselves on the back foot in Austin, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull taking the win in the Sprint and finishing third in the main race. While McLaren has generally been strong since the summer, Stella explained that the track’s characteristics at the Circuit of the Americas didn’t favor their MCL38 car.
“The track’s mix of very low-speed corners and high-speed sections played to the strengths of teams like Red Bull and Ferrari,” Stella said. “We know these are areas where we are not at our best. Red Bull, in particular, had time to analyze data and fine-tune their car for Austin, which gave them a further edge.”
Despite the struggles in Austin, Stella is optimistic about McLaren’s chances in upcoming races, including the Mexican Grand Prix. “Mexico should suit our car’s characteristics better, so we’re expecting to be more competitive there. Austin wasn’t ideal for us, but it wasn’t a major surprise given the track layout.”
Ferrari’s Late Surge in the Championship
Ferrari’s resurgence in Austin has reinvigorated their championship campaign, as they look to reduce McLaren’s points advantage. With five races left in the season, both teams are vying to secure critical points in the Constructors’ Championship. Ferrari’s ability to fully exploit their SF-24’s potential in the remaining races could be decisive in their pursuit of McLaren.
While McLaren has consistently improved since the summer break, the battle for second place in the championship has intensified. Ferrari’s performance in Austin showed that they remain a serious contender, and with their drivers now looking to close the 48-point gap, the championship fight is far from over.
