What a wonderful Ferrari we now have seen recently. A Formulation 1 group that has slowly and progressively emerged from its technical deadlock, getting again on high, as Flavio Briatore would say. Three wins within the final 5 races have definitely not come by probability, and it may have been 4 if not for a misjudgment on the Baku Metropolis Circuit in Azerbaijan. And perhaps even 5 if the Maranello group would have higher assessed tire activation throughout qualifying on the Singapore Grand Prix. In brief, a Ferrari on the offensive. The objective for this third and last spherical of the triple-header stays the identical.
Ferrari is aiming for victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix, with a robust need to maintain the dream of the Constructors’ Championship alive. A somewhat wasteful McLaren may nonetheless assist, because the group led by Andrea Stella can also be targeted on the drivers’ championship battle with Lando Norris, whereas Oscar Piastri, the Australian, has appeared virtually like a shadow of himself because the Baku weekend. Repeating success in Formulation 1 is rarely simple, particularly with very decided rivals. Nevertheless, the historic Italian group is exhibiting nice willpower, and the worry of profitable appears to have left the group. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are giving their all and elevating the Italian colours worldwide, as technical consciousness of its capabilities drives the SF-24 to new heights.
The 4.309-kilometre Interlagos circuit, formally referred to as Autódromo José Carlos Tempo, is a historic and extremely technical observe for Formulation 1. It unfolds in a mixture of lengthy straights with technical sectors, significantly the second, the place tight turns and chicanes demand a excessive degree of driving precision. Interlagos can also be well-known for its unpredictable climate, typically forcing groups to adapt the setup of the automotive. For Ferrari, presently in a really constructive interval, this occasion represents one other probability to place the SF-24 to the take a look at on a observe that rewards each high velocity and traction within the extra gradual sections.
The Prancing Horse arrives in Brazil with a robust, well-balanced aerodynamic bundle, because of an working window huge sufficient to adapt to completely different layouts on this 2024 Formulation 1 calendar. After latest races, the Maranello group appears capable of finding steadiness on every observe, minimizing the weaknesses of its automotive whereas absolutely exploiting its strengths. Because of this, in contrast to in different Formulation 1 seasons, tracks with completely different traits not characterize an insurmountable impediment.
Because of this, Ferrari’s confidence in its capabilities may be very excessive in the meanwhile. Final yr, the group selected a setup that favored high velocity, as a way to achieve time within the quicker sections, particularly on the primary straight and the part resulting in turns 4 and 5. This yr, following final season’s development, the purple automotive will goal to optimize high velocity, because it did in Mexico, the place between Friday and Saturday they decreased aerodynamic load from the Monaco specification, shifting to a medium-high setup first seen on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
For the Brazilian Grand Prix, it’s anticipated that the Italian group will go for an strategy much like final Sunday’s, specializing in a extra versatile specification appropriate for blended circuits. In 2023, it’s value recalling that Ferrari struggled in gradual corners, significantly on the first chicane, at turns 4 and 5, because of an endemic lack of vertical load. Reducing the journey heights had yielded good outcomes by way of qualifying efficiency, however this alternative in the end compromised total efficiency over the 300-kilometer race distance. This yr, nevertheless, the SF-24 automotive has proven higher steadiness at low speeds, in addition to agility on the curbs, that are additionally much less pronounced in Interlagos than in Mexico.
On the identical time, Ferrari has to concentrate on the optimum tire administration through the race. The Maranello group’s technicians and engineers have labored to construct a compromise favoring the slower sections, even when this implies sacrificing some efficiency in excessive downforce corners, like flip 12, the place in 2023 the Ferrari misplaced virtually a tenth and a half, which it then recovered with velocity within the high-speed part resulting in the end line. In quick corners, the SF-24 will search a compromise with suspension stiffness. The goal is to handle aerodynamic load for the race, the place common speeds in quick sections lower together with the required downforce.
In qualifying, the Italian F1 group depends on the motive force’s sensitivity to handle the automotive’s rear, prioritizing high velocity. This alternative goals to create a automotive efficient over lengthy runs and suited to tire preservation through the race. Interlagos is especially demanding on tire compounds, characterised by excessive degradation, a scenario that in 2023 compelled drivers to handle the compounds all through the race and considerably restrict efficiency. This yr, Ferrari goals to keep away from such problematic administration.
This can even be achieved with higher management over floor and carcass temperature. The SF-24 has proven enchancment on this space, mixed with a setup designed to maintain the tires in an optimum temperature window and keep away from compromising race tempo as final yr. Within the second sector, numerous sections place stress on the rear axle in traction, the place micro-slips should be averted to ease tire administration. Ferrari begins off the Sao Paulo weekend assured, satisfied that it could battle for victory in Brazil.
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