Ferrari have delayed recent Formula 1 upgrades to try and develop ‘holy grail’ update

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Every visit to Monza is arguably the most important event of the season for the Ferrari Formula 1 team.

The Italian Grand Prix is the opportunity that the Tifosi are given every year to pledge their support – or angst – to Ferrari depending on how well they’re performing that season.

The 2024 campaign has been a mixed bag for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz so far.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

After 15 Grand Prix, both drivers have achieved their first victories of the season but those successes have been few and far between.

At the beginning of the campaign, it appeared as though Ferrari were the closest challengers to Red Bull.

Leclerc was Max Verstappen’s closest rival at one point and when he won his home race at Monte Carlo, he looked set to kick on.

However, an upgrade package delivered to the Spanish Grand Prix has set Ferrari back while their rivals took much bigger strides forward.

Journalists Scott Mitchell-Malm and Ben Anderson were speaking on The Race Podcast about Ferrari’s future developments this year.

Oscar Piastri was left surprised by how fast Ferrari were at Zandvoort but that turn of pace wasn’t expected.

Naomi Schiff shared that a source close to Ferrari didn’t see Leclerc’s podium coming or Sainz’s ability to race from 10^th to 5^th last Sunday.

Ferrari have plans in the works though and typically try to be at the very top of their game whenever they’re racing at home.

The next big upgrade package they deliver is being designed to either put them back in the battle for victories or confirm that they’re not completely sure they know what they’re doing.

Ferrari planning for a ‘holy grail’ update after recent struggles

Asked if Ferrari have lost their way after bringing no upgrade to the Dutch Grand Prix, Mitchell-Malm said: “I think it’s more that Zandvoort exaggerated or maybe ruthlessly exposed where it’s just been weaker this season.

“Then linked to that is the point about the lack of upgrades, which is that they are working on something that if it achieves what it’s meant to achieve could be the holy grail of Ferrari developments this season.

“And if it doesn’t, they’ve screwed up royally and they’ve been wasting time in the interim, so basically they’re at a point at the moment where they’ve got a very key troubleshooting upgrade on the way.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Anderson added: “That’s what the delay is about, isn’t it?

“I think it’s more that they need to get this right. They can’t afford to kind of get more lost by rushing something on that they think is going to fix it and then it doesn’t fix it.

“Then you end up in the kind of a Red Bull situation where you don’t know what floor to run.”

Ferrari hold onto key engineer after losing Enrico Cardile

Team principal Frederic Vasseur has had several small fires to put out at Ferrari this season.

Losing Enrico Cardile to Aston Martin is a bitter blow and he’ll be hoping the team is in the best shape possible before the arrival of Lewis Hamilton next year.

However, one Ferrari engineer turned down the chance to triple his salary to follow Cardile to the British team.

Vasseur will need that dedication going forward to help Ferrari win another championship having not won a title in nearly 20 years.

Hamilton wouldn’t have signed for the team and Leclerc may not have extended his contract if they didn’t think the team could challenge the likes of McLaren and Red Bull.

They may need to wait until the new regulations in 2026 unless they can deliver their ‘holy grail’ update.