Ferrari chief assesses start to 2024 F1 campaign

Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna has warned the Maranello-based team that there is "still work to be done", despite making a strong start to the 2024 season.

The Italian squad is in a significantly better position than 12 months with huge strides having been made - particularly in areas such as tyre management and strategy execution.

Ferrari has scored double the number of points 12 months on after the same number of races, while it also has five podium finishes – including a victory in Australia – to its name.

It is undoubtedly Red Bull's biggest threat, although Vigna knows that Ferrari's form can change in a heartbeat.

"We started better than last year, but there is still work to be done and there always will be," Vigna told La Repubblica.

"The team only had one podium this time last year, as well as just one race win all season.

"The world of competition is like a person's life accelerated to the maximum - things can change quickly, going between good and bad. Stasis does not exist, everything flows quickly.”

Ferrari's victory at the Australian Grand Prix came courtesy of Carlos Sainz just 16 days after undergoing an appendectomy. The Spaniard has also claimed further podiums in Bahrain and Japan.

Team-mate Leclerc also finished on the rostrum in Australia as well as the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The performance and characteristics of the SF24 have been hailed by the drivers and its strenghts were evident last time out at Suzuka, where Ferrari halved its deficit to Red Bull compared to 2023.

"Yeah, [it was] very satisfying," said Sainz. "We exactly improved the car in the places that we wanted to improve it, and Suzuka proves it.

"Still, places like Suzuka, we are not as quick as the Red Bull, which is the target, but as soon as we bring a good upgrade to the car that goes in the right direction, hopefully it can get us closer. But yeah, we've improved everywhere, and especially in the race pace.

"It also allows us to have more strategic flexibility, that last year we didn't have. It allows me to go forward in the races and instead of looking in my mirrors all the time to offset myself with strategy and then overtake people, which is something that last year wasn't on the cards at any point.

"So, happy and makes me enjoy more racing."