Scuderia Ferrari approaches the Qatar dash race, the final of the 2024 Formulation 1 World Championship, with the need to present its finest. Sadly, qualifying went poorly for the Maranello workforce. The explanations are primarily attributable to 2 elements. We seek advice from the shortcoming to handle the environmental circumstances of the aggressive context and, consequently, to the activation and upkeep of the goal temperatures on the tires. A state of affairs already seen and bitterly skilled throughout different race weekends, the place the 2 SF-24 vehicles have been unable to extract most efficiency. And it’s really a disgrace, as a result of on the 5.419-kilometre Lusail Worldwide Circuit in Qatar the Italian facet may have executed nicely.
The potential is there, and this might even be seen as excellent news. Nonetheless, the standard incapability to carry out at their finest dashes the hopes of the Prancing Horse in nurturing the dream of the Constructors’ World Championship. McLaren was, and has confirmed to be, the favourite. As we speak, within the Dash Race, it clearly aimed to safe a one-two end that would seal the title for the British workforce. Ferrari may have the possibility to regulate the setup of its vehicles earlier than the second qualifying session—a transfer that the Maranello workforce now intends to make however didn’t think about worthwhile yesterday.
And but it was, as a result of the cooler-than-expected temperatures on the Losail monitor created a state of affairs totally different from what was anticipated within the simulator. There’s nothing left to do however push and “give it all the pieces,” as Ferrari workforce principal Frederic Vasseur said within the common pre-weekend discussions with media from world wide. As a result of, till confirmed in any other case, in fashionable Formulation 1, you by no means know what would possibly occur. Most focus, readability at first, and a race through which harm limitation have to be the purpose. This was the goal of a workforce that may nonetheless carry out nicely over the course of the Qatari weekend.
Now let’s take an in depth have a look at how occasions unfolded for the 2 Ferrari drivers within the Qatar dash race based mostly on the onboard footage from the 2 SF-24 single-seaters:
There at the moment are only some minutes left earlier than the beginning of the 100 kilometer race. The vehicles are lined up on the beginning grid. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are about to climb aboard their vehicles after reviewing the most recent info with their respective engineers. It will likely be fascinating to see how the beginning is managed. On one hand, the necessity to push to get better some positions at first. On the opposite, the need of not excessively stressing the tires, thereby shortening the helpful lifetime of the rubber, which, it needs to be remembered, should final your entire stint with out being changed. Therefore, the necessity to handle them as successfully as potential.
Let’s check out the final circumstances earlier than diving into the narrative: the air temperature is 21.4°C, and the monitor floor temperature is 26.7°C. Humidity is pretty excessive at 53%, and the wind blows from the north at 3.8 kilometers per hour. We’re ready for the reconnaissance lap. It’s value declaring that the monitor floor is about 5°C hotter, and temperatures will rise considerably throughout the race. It would subsequently be fascinating to know how tire degradation is managed. Routine communication checks are going down, with Carlos Sainz taking the chance to debate the entrance wing in relation to the downforce load put in on the entrance finish to make sure correct stability.
The Ferrari drivers are knowledgeable that everybody within the prime ten has chosen the scrubbed Medium compound, the identical tire utilized by the 2 SF-24s. Engines are fired up. Through the set up lap, the purpose is to succeed in the goal temperature earlier than repositioning on the beginning grid. Carlos Sainz performs 4 burnouts to warmth his rear tires, whereas Charles does 4.5. We’re prepared, ready just for the inexperienced gentle. The Spaniard will get off to a poor begin and, in making an attempt to defend towards his teammate’s assaults, barely hinders him, permitting Lewis Hamilton to take benefit and cross Charles Leclerc.
Oscar Piastri reveals nice ability, overtaking George Russell at first, placing the 2 McLarens answerable for the race. The grip for the Italian vehicles will not be nice. Furthermore, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are instructed to save lots of tires in turns 9 and 14. Observing the dashboard of the Ferrari vehicles, it’s noticeable that the tires stay beneath their excellent temperature till lap 3, when the compounds start offering extra grip. Further care is suggested for the tires in turns 5 and 12 as nicely. The 2 Ferraris progressively acquire confidence; Carlos Sainz closes in on the highest three, whereas the Monegasque driver stays behind Lewis at a protected distance in the meanwhile.
Saturation in flip 7 have to be monitored on this Formulation 1 period that many name “tire formulation,” which persistently repeats the identical tiresome thread, considerably limiting efficiency. An additional gear in flip 4 for the Spaniard, one level much less on the mid-corner differential for Charles Leclerc to help rotation—these are the solutions given to the Ferrari drivers on lap 7. The mini race is moderately predictable. Nothing noteworthy occurs on the entrance. With ten laps remaining, it seems the Monegasque is closing in on Hamilton’s Mercedes.
Regularly, the pack compresses, with the highest six vehicles inside a five-second span. Charles Leclerc pushes onerous and, on lap 12, manages to overhaul his future teammate utilizing the drag discount system on the finish of the primary straight. Carlos Sainz makes an attempt to shut in on George Russell, who, in flip, is glued to Oscar Piastri’s rear wing. Curiously, the 2 Ferrari vehicles should not affected by understeer, whereas the 2 McLarens exhibit slight over-rotation, primarily because of their aggressive cornering. The race slips away with simply three laps remaining.
The Spanish driver didn’t relent for a second however was by no means in a position to problem the drivers forward. In the meantime, the Monegasque reclaimed the place he misplaced to his future Ferrari teammate at first of the Qatar dash race. George Russell made quite a few makes an attempt to overhaul the Australian driver in entrance of him, however the latter defended skillfully all through. No matter whether or not one likes the Dash Race format, this monitor doesn’t appear suited to it, given the structure and environmental circumstances that restrict pleasure.
Scuderia Ferrari subsequently pays a heavy worth for a poor efficiency within the Dash qualifying session on Friday. McLaren secures 15 factors with a one-two end, whereas the Italian facet, with fourth and fifth locations, solely earns 9 factors. This implies the hole of 24 factors will increase to 30 with two races remaining—tomorrow’s race after which the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Though the Ferrari drivers gave their throughout these 100 kilometers, the result’s definitely removed from passable.
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