Charles Leclerc fell sufferer to an incident brought on by Alexander Albon within the first free apply session for the Mexico Metropolis GP final weekend: the Williams automobile hit the SF-24 assigned to Ferrari Driver Academy member Ollie Bearman inside minutes, leaving the Monegasque with out the required knowledge to fine-tune his Ferrari at a race closely affected by the skinny air at 2,240 meters on the Mexican plateau.
The primary hour was devoted by the Maranello group to evaluating some vital features, such because the distribution of hybrid power over a lap, energy unit cooling, brake cooling, and turbo optimization, subjected to uncommon and repeated pressure. These could appear to be particulars from the skin, however on the subject of fine-tuning on an atypical circuit, each small aspect impacts the end result. Add to this the truth that the second free apply session for the Mexican Grand Prix was conditioned by a compulsory Pirelli tire check for the 2025 prototype, and it’s clear that Charles Leclerc confronted setups that didn’t add up on the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico Metropolis.
Furthermore, Charles Leclerc doesn’t favor automobiles with an understeering tendency, preferring to brake virtually as much as the apex with a rear finish that helps with cornering. Mexico Metropolis, nonetheless, is a monitor that, because of its traits, favors a driving fashion suited to dealing with understeer, with Carlos Sainz clearly demonstrating this. The Spaniard took pole place and received the race with undisputed superiority.
It’s a part of the sport, however there may be some remorse that, maybe, the Monegasque might have accomplished a one-two end for the Italian facet in Mexico Metropolis, replicating the success in the US Grand Prix on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin the place he took the victory. All of this to say that Ferrari is expressing its most technical potential, competing on par with McLaren, which is rightly thought-about the common automobile adaptable to any monitor.
The occasions on the American continent are usually not but over: the System 1 calendar presents us with a triple-header and the Brazilian Grand Prix is scheduled to happen subsequent weekend. Interlagos is one other high-altitude venue, though São Paulo’s 700 meters is hardly similar to Mexico’s 2,240 meters (with a 17% air density discount in comparison with 30% final Sunday). Max Verstappen must resort to his fifth engine to finish the 2024 System 1 championship, whereas Ferrari has not, not less than for now, deliberate any replacements when it comes to energy unit parts, despite the fact that the inner combustion engine endures extreme pressure with 70% of the lap at full throttle.
In Brazil, Ferrari goals to proceed its optimistic streak, which has introduced it to only 29 factors behind McLaren, who leads the Constructors’ Championship. Simulations for Interlagos carried out again residence in Maranello counsel that the monitor must be favorable for the SF-24 single-seater, which, due to the extra versatile wing launched in Austin, appears to have achieved enviable steadiness.
On the Interlagos circuit, we’ll see a automobile with out main technical upgrades, as the ultimate ones are more likely to seem in Qatar, however with changes to the crimson automobile suited to a monitor requiring medium aerodynamic load.
The Italian facet has discovered good race steadiness, even though they should search higher efficiency from the mushy compound tires within the qualifying session (with Pirelli choosing the C2, C3, and C4 compounds at São Paulo). And right here lie Ferrari’s doubts: the Brazilian circuit has undergone resurfacing work.
In a weekend that includes the Dash Race format, the one free apply session can be essential for understanding the traits of the brand new floor with unknown grip. The Maranello group normally completes its homework effectively, and in races with the Dash format, the Ferrari engineers and technicians handle to place a well-prepared automobile on monitor. Nonetheless, at Interlagos, it is going to be important to not lose a minute on monitor to adapt their parameters to the brand new monitor floor.
It’s subsequently price stating that this unknown issue might wreck all simulations together with temperature modifications. The SF-24 automobile prefers hotter circumstances, whereas the climate forecast, which is extremely changeable on this space, might shortly alter eventualities, as rain is forecasted for Sunday’s race.
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