Ferrari may have installed ‘creative’ secret updates to earn Charles Leclerc win at the US Grand Prix

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Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur couldn’t have asked for a better return to Formula 1 action after the autumn break.

The United States Grand Prix was looking like it could be a frustrating event for the Ferrari team after their impressive pace in the weekend’s only practice session.

Carlos Sainz drove brilliantly to finish in second in the Sprint Race, but Charles Leclerc couldn’t find his way onto the podium after some important defensive driving from Lando Norris.

Both drivers then failed to qualify on the front row for Sunday’s Grand Prix, albeit George Russell’s crash prevented any drivers from setting a final flying lap.

However, Leclerc immediately took advantage of Max Verstappen and Norris’s tussle going into the first corner, taking the lead and driving off into the distance.

Martin Brundle admits he felt sorry for Leclerc because of how little screen time the Monegasque driver got on his way to an eighth Formula 1 victory.

Sainz manages to undercut Verstappen to secure the team’s first one-two finish in the United States since 2006.

Frederic Vasseur spoke after the race and Formula Passion may have uncovered why Ferrari were so quick thanks to a subtle hint from the team principal.

Ferrari didn’t officially declare any updates on their car for the race in Austin, unlike closest rivals McLaren and Red Bull.

However, there may have been more to that than meets the eye.

Frederic Vasseur admits Ferrari were ‘creative’ with potential United States Grand Prix update package

When asked about Ferrari’s lack of named updates, Vasseur simply said: “You have to be creative.

“It’s not that if we don’t declare something then we don’t bring any innovations.

“What we declare are only the changes to the external shapes.”

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

Vasseur’s interesting answer to that question suggests that there was more to the SF-24 than meets the eye at the Circuit of the Americas.

The report from Formula Passions suggests that work may have been done at Ferrari’s Maranello factory on the car’s suspension springs and shock absorbers.

Both parts would have been ‘essential’ for keeping the chassis stable which would have helped retain a constant ground clearance at a notoriously bumpy track.

This, according to the report, led to a ‘better compromise’ between mechanical grip and aerodynamic load and relates to the sacrifice Ferrari made when it came to setting up their car for the race.

Jarno Trulli backs Charles Leclerc to have advantage over Lewis Hamilton next season

Ferrari still have plenty of play for before the end of the 2024 season, with both championships technically in play.

Leclerc has a 79-point deficit to make up to Verstappen which would require the Dutchman to fail to score points at least twice if he realistically thinks he can win his first title this year.

Ferrari’s hopes in the Constructors’ Championship are much more positive, with McLaren only having a 48-point lead at this stage and Red Bull falling away thanks to Sergio Perez’s struggles.

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

However, next year is when things could get really interesting once Lewis Hamilton replaces Sainz in their driver line-up.

The seven-time world champion will be counting down the races after another disappointing weekend for Mercedes in Austin.

Jarno Trulli has shared why he thinks Leclerc will have an advantage over Hamilton next year at Ferrari, and if the Monegasque driver can beat his toughest teammate to date, then there’s no reason why he can’t target winning world championships of his own sooner rather than later.