Former Ferrari driver, René Arnoux, expressed confidence that Ferrari could present a real challenge to Red Bull this year. Red Bull Racing has been the dominant force in Formula 1 during the ground effect era. However, Scuderia Ferrari may finally be able to match the current world champions this season. In an incredible 1-2 victory for Maranello after Verstappen’s retirement, Ferrari won the recent race. Now, former F1 driver Arnoux has made a bold statement about the 2024 Constructors’ Championship.
Arnoux suggested that he expects to witness a team title battle this season between Red Bull and Ferrari. The Frenchman encouraged Scuderia Ferrari to try to close the pace gap to the Austrian team throughout the season. Furthermore, Arnoux believed that if Maranello does not face serious issues this year, Ferrari could have a greater chance of winning the Constructors’ title compared to Milton Keynes. It has recently been stated that winning the team title is Scuderia’s goal this year.
The 75-year-old man praised Carlos Sainz’s performance at Albert Park. Arnoux mentioned that despite Verstappen’s retirement, Ferrari managed to make the most of the weekend. The Frenchman recalled that Ferrari often had better lap times than Red Bull in the last season. Now, it has been confirmed that Maranello is much closer to Milton Keynes in 2024. Verstappen is considered the favorite to win the 2024 season based on his record-breaking campaign last year. On the other hand, Sergio Perez has struggled to keep up with his world champion teammate. The Mexican driver’s car suffered damage that affected his performance at the Australian GP.
René Arnoux emphasized that Ferrari is currently not at the same level as Red Bull. However, Maranello is only behind Max Verstappen, indicating that Perez failed to pose a real threat to the two Ferrari drivers. Arnoux stated that if the Scuderia can continue their winning streak in the upcoming races, then the Italian team has a real chance of clinching the title. Ferrari has significantly reduced the gap to Red Bull this season. However, there is still a lot of work to be done at the Italian team if they truly want to surpass Milton Keynes in the standings. Fans are looking forward to an exciting battle for the F1 championship this season.