How big is the threat of Ferrari to McLaren in the constructors’ championship? – Daphne
McLaren are 36 points ahead of Ferrari heading into the final three races of the season, which start with Las Vegas on 21-23 November, followed by Qatar and Abu Dhabi on the next two weekends.
That’s a decent lead, enough that if McLaren perform well in Las Vegas and Qatar, they could seal the title before the final race of the season.
But because both cars score in the constructors’ championship, it is definitely winnable for Ferrari.
There are a total of 44 points available on a normal weekend, as Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi are, and 52 on the Qatar sprint weekend – so 140 on the table in total.
On paper, Las Vegas favours Ferrari – it is the sort of track on which they have been strong this year. A street circuit, with predominantly slow corners, with some big braking down from high speed.
This emphasises Ferrari’s strengths and does not play to McLaren’s. Think of Ferrari’s pace in Monaco, Monza, Baku, Singapore and Mexico.
Qatar, though, is expected to favour McLaren – and Ferrari are a little worried about their prospective pace there.
But the top three teams are all closely matched, so it’s hard to predict how things will go.
Think of Singapore, for example, where Charles Leclerc really should have qualified on the front row for Ferrari, but made a mistake on his qualifying lap.
Or Baku, where again Leclerc-Ferrari was probably the fastest driver-car combination but McLaren executed a good strategy to bring Oscar Piastri into range, and the Australian got ahead with a brilliant late overtaking dive, holding on to win under intense pressure.
And what will be Red Bull’s pace in the dry after a strong showing in the US, but a disappointing weekend in Mexico?
In short, McLaren have a lead large enough to make them favourites, but it’s a lot more open than the drivers’ championship, where Max Verstappen can clinch the title in Las Vegas if he beats Lando Norris, and in some finishing combinations even if he does not.
