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Monday, January 27, 2025

Ferrari: alternative is ripe to reopen 2024 F1 Constructors’ Championship


Step one was in the fitting route. For Ferrari, the Las Vegas weekend represents an vital alternative to considerably cut back the 36 factors separating them from McLaren within the Constructors’ Championship standings. This state of affairs was anticipated earlier than the weekend and much more so after the end result of qualifying, which confirmed the 2 ‘reds’ forward of the ‘papayas’. As hoped, Carlos Sainz (second) and Charles Leclerc (fourth) will begin forward of the Lando Norris – Oscar Piastri duo, who certified sixth and eighth.

For the Scuderia, putting each automobiles within the high 4 was removed from a given. A serving to hand got here from Lewis Hamilton’s harakiri, however in any other case, Ferrari confirmed stronger efficiency on a single lap than even Max Verstappen‘s Crimson Bull. The dreaded tire warm-up points have been contained, and in relation to getting the tires into the fitting temperature window, Carlos Sainz takes cost. “It was one of the crucial tough Saturdays of the season,” Carlos commented. “However we are able to say we did a superb job. Clearly, I might have most popular to be on pole, however Mercedes has been very quick all weekend on a single lap.”

In Ferrari’s Friday night time overview, it was Charles Leclerc’s sharp edge that was lacking. Charles was lucky to see Pierre Gasly slip into the three-tenths hole that separated him from Carlos Sainz, securing him a spot within the second row, which leaves nothing to preclude a robust race tomorrow. “It wasn’t an important qualifying for me,” Charles admitted. “We had fairly just a few difficulties with grip, we couldn’t get the tires into the fitting working window, and we might want to analyze this case. However I don’t anticipate this problem to resurface in the course of the race.”

“Being second and fourth on the grid is constructive for the race forward,” confirmed Frederic Vasseur. “Particularly contemplating we struggled with the one lap and had problem getting the tires to temperature. It’s true that Charles maybe anticipated to do higher, however he had extra hassle than Carlos with tire preparation.”

Ferrari’s focus is on the Constructors’ Championship, and though Mercedes is just not a direct rival, to maximise their factors haul, they might want to go away Russell behind as nicely. The problem with McLaren appears inside attain, as each Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri confirmed difficulties managing their automobiles in low-grip situations, and after qualifying, Lando didn’t conceal his disappointment, even utilizing a good bit of sarcasm. “Effectively, it’s unbelievable what occurred in the present day contemplating we’ve got by far the quickest automotive, proper? Possibly the water within the tires didn’t work or one thing like that?” Then Lando analyzed what occurred.

“Let’s neglect in regards to the rear wing and the whole lot else, we all know nicely that our automotive doesn’t adapt nicely to very low-grip situations like these right here in Las Vegas. To be quick, we’ve got to push the whole lot to the restrict, nevertheless it’s not simple. It’s a problem, since you repair one downside and one other one pops up. Possibly it wasn’t our greatest Q3, I made a few small errors, however they’re errors which might be very exhausting to keep away from. It was simply too tough to do a clear lap, I’m attempting to go quicker, however on the identical time, I’m attempting to not make errors.”

McLaren must defend their place for 50 laps tomorrow, which supplies Ferrari an vital alternative. The lengthy runs accomplished on Thursday by Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc with medium tires have been encouraging, and whereas the exhausting tire stays an unknown, it’s a shared query amongst all of the drivers on the grid since nobody has used it in the course of the three free observe classes. McLaren hopes the more durable compound will show to be an ally, however it could be too late to get better misplaced floor.

“We now have to give attention to ourselves and the race,” defined Fred Vasseur. “I believe there can be many overtaking alternatives. Final yr, this was the Grand Prix with probably the most place adjustments. For many of the season, we’ve had a automotive with higher race tempo than qualifying tempo, and our tempo yesterday within the lengthy runs throughout free observe was aggressive. A very powerful factor within the Grand Prix can be tire administration, particularly controlling the graining. We should be cautious to not push too exhausting at the beginning and protect the tires to have extra strategic choices obtainable.”

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc know that quite a bit will depend upon the beginning and the primary nook, however the whole lot appears to be arrange in the easiest way. The sixth win of the season, which might increase Ferrari’s probabilities within the Constructors’ Championship, appears inside attain.

Carlos Sainz in F1 Las Vegas GP driving Ferrari SF-24

Maria Lombardi

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