Ferrari’s team principal, Frederic Vasseur, expressed his frustration over the team’s delayed response to the flexi-wing situation during the 2024 F1 season. Although the Scuderia started the year strong, consistently competing for podiums and sitting second fastest behind Red Bull, things began to unravel after their victory at the Monaco GP.

As the season progressed into the European leg, Ferrari’s performance dropped, with McLaren and Mercedes surpassing them. The two teams made significant gains by utilizing flexible front and rear wings, which helped them dominate the races between Austria and the Netherlands.

In an interview with Motorsport.com on November 14, Vasseur revealed that Ferrari had been waiting on the FIA’s ruling regarding flexi-wings, a delay that cost them valuable development time. The Ferrari boss admitted that the team initially believed the FIA would ban the technology and decided not to pursue it. When the FIA gave the green light, Ferrari was already behind the curve.

“There was frustration because at one stage we were waiting for the decision of the FIA when they installed the cameras [from the Belgian GP]. We were convinced that it would go for the ‘no go’. And it went for the ‘go’! So probably we lost one or two months,” said Vasseur.

The issue, he added, was made even worse by the cost cap, which forced the team to make difficult decisions on where to allocate resources. “With the cost cap, you have to make your choices. If you are convinced that something won’t be allowed, but then it’s approved, you lose time in the wind tunnel. But it was our decision.”

Ferrari introduced their own flexi-wing upgrade at the Singapore GP, which seemed to restore their competitiveness. With this new development, Ferrari has managed to win two of the last four races, putting them back in the title hunt.

In addition to discussing the flexi-wing issue, Vasseur also shared his thoughts on Ferrari’s broader performance this season. While acknowledging some team mistakes, he emphasized that the team’s strategy didn’t cost them as many points as it might appear.

Speaking with RacingNews365, Vasseur focused on the importance of keeping a forward-looking mindset. “I don’t think we’ve lost so many points on the strategy, but for sure, you have frustration when you look at the complete season,” he said. “We made mistakes as a team, and had some issues, but I think that is true for everybody. The most important thing is to avoid racing with ‘if’ because everybody can win races, but we need to focus on what we are doing to try and improve.”

As the 2024 season enters its final stretch, Ferrari sits in second place in the Constructors’ Championship, 36 points behind McLaren and 13 points ahead of Red Bull. With three races and one Sprint remaining, Vasseur believes the next tracks could suit Ferrari’s SF-24, giving them a strong chance to fight for the title.

“The team has a great opportunity to go for the championship and bring it home for the first time since 2008,” Vasseur concluded, looking ahead to the season’s closing races. Ferrari’s challenge for the title remains alive, with the momentum shifting back in their favor as they aim to close the gap to McLaren and claim their first championship in over a decade.