spanish grand prix

Just when it seemed like Charles Leclerc had finally achieved a breakthrough moment in his career by securing a win in Monaco, both he and teammate Carlos Sainz experienced a harsh reality check in Canada. They each suffered a DNF (Did Not Finish), one due to an engine failure and the other because of a crash, leaving both drivers bewildered following their impressive double podium finish just two weeks earlier.

Despite this disastrous performance, Ferrari finds itself trailing Red Bull by a mere 49 points as they head into the weekend. The Tifosi can partly thank Sergio Pérez for not widening the gap further, as he failed to finish his second consecutive race. Nevertheless, the pressure is now mounting.

Barcelona is anticipated to be a significantly more favorable track for Red Bull compared to the previous two races, which should raise concerns for the chasing teams of Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes. However, unlike McLaren and Mercedes, Ferrari had shown remarkable consistency throughout the season until the setback in Canada. The team is also rumored to have brought substantial upgrades to Spain.

Leclerc and Sainz must quickly adapt to the new setup and regain their form as the busiest stretch of the season begins.

Now that summer has arrived, the 2024 Formula One season is officially under way. This week, the paddock travels to Barcelona for the annual Spanish Grand Prix, which marks the beginning of the first triple-header of the season before stops in Austria and Great Britain.

After a lackluster performance in Monaco, Max Verstappen bounced back with a flawless drive in Canada, earning his sixth victory of the year and maintaining Red Bull's lead in the constructor standings after nine weeks. But with Ferrari and McLaren still in the hunt for the championship and Mercedes making a significant breakthrough in Montreal, the field is still focused on turning this into a true championship battle.