Ferrari was prepared to check the SF-24 within the single free observe session for the Qatar Grand Prix. In Method 1, sixty minutes is actually a brief period of time to validate a setup. But, that is what all of the groups on the grid should do, understanding that already this afternoon, the primary qualifying session of the weekend will happen. This can decide the grid for the Dash Race, the place the primary essential factors for the Constructors’ Championship might be awarded. “Let’s give it our all”: that is the message from Frederic Vasseur to his staff after the truce between the Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz established to maintain the 2024 Method 1 championship dream alive.
The Prancing Horse doesn’t arrive in Losail as the favourite, because the Italian automobiles will not be significantly keen on high-speed corners. Nevertheless, the setup will purpose to optimize the crimson automobiles, with the objective of extracting the utmost efficiency from them. As beforehand reported, Ferrari has determined to as soon as once more check the brand new experimental ground. The Qatari monitor is ideal for assessing the potential of this main part, a basic factor in producing downforce that, the extra steady it’s, delivers constant efficiency in all driving situations.
Now let’s take an in depth have a look at how occasions unfolded for Ferrari within the first free observe session on the 5.419-kilometre Lusail Worldwide Circuit.
The Maranello staff is able to face a very powerful problem, because the Arab circuit, along with quick corners and technical sections, requires traction phases at a lot larger speeds than traditional. This session may even contain tire testing. Distinctive macro and micro floor roughness, mixed with excessive temperatures, will make tire administration much more difficult. With out additional ado, let’s leap into the SF-24 automobiles for this on-track session, which is able to present the primary suggestions on the standard of the work accomplished on the manufacturing facility.
Earlier than diving into the standard on-board protection of the Maranello automobiles, let’s check out the climate situations: air temperature is 26.5°C, monitor temperature is 21.3°C. Humidity could be very low at 53%, and the wind blows from the north at 4.4 kilometers per hour. Every little thing is able to hit the monitor, with solely the inexperienced gentle awaited. The Ferrari drivers are of their automobiles, focusing to carry out at their finest. One final look on the telemetry after the ultimate checks on the single-seaters, and off they go.
For this primary run, each SF-24 automobiles are fitted with a set of white-banded Pirelli tires. The Laborious tires will present steady efficiency to exactly research the automobile’s habits. The gearbox is about to place Gx3. The monitor engineers emphasize the significance of activating the tires utilizing the rear brakes. In Charles Leclerc’s case, with the brand new ground, he’s instructed to keep up a continuing pace within the first sector. The monitor nonetheless seems a bit “inexperienced,” and a few corrections might be noticed. The work program entails a number of laps with out lifting off, it appears.
For the time being, the engine mapping is about to Engine 4, the usual configuration used throughout races. Carlos Sainz seems much less snug than his teammate, even requesting a pit cease for a entrance wing adjustment. Nevertheless, this doesn’t occur as he prefers to proceed testing the automobile. After three consecutive laps, the crimson automobiles take a breather to chill the tires. Some recommendation is given to enhance dealing with, whereas checks are carried out on the hybrid system’s effectiveness with the assist of the motor mills.
The development for the crimson automobile stays the identical: an extra of rotation, particularly on exits from the quicker corners. The pit wall’s consideration is excessive, offering a collection of insights on the automobile’s drivability. Now, the interior combustion engine is switched to most energy to collect essentially the most helpful suggestions potential on the engine’s significance. Sainz is pressured to elevate off because of important visitors, which is difficult to handle successfully on this circuit, contemplating the monitor format.
Charles Leclerc appears in nice form. He positions himself forward of everybody else, regardless of utilizing a slower compound, the yellow-banded one, in comparison with the remainder of the rivals. The Spaniard additionally improves his time, though he struggles greater than the Monegasque. After about twenty minutes, the crimson automobiles enter the pit lane. Given the restricted time accessible, the SF-24s cease of their pit packing containers, the place Medium compounds are fitted earlier than rapidly returning to the Qatari monitor floor. The work continues. It will likely be fascinating to see how the 2 Ferrari automobiles carry out with extra grip.
The Ferrari drivers full just one lap on the yellow-banded tires, performing a collection of constant-speed assessments earlier than returning to the storage. Observing the dashboard, it’s evident that the crimson automobiles start the lap with low front-end temperatures, with the left entrance heating up rapidly because of lateral stress. In the meantime, the rear seems to have barely extreme temperatures. These are very fascinating information factors, as they assist validate the warm-up technique and decide if techniques want to alter relying on the grip gained by the compounds. Undoubtedly, it is a key side for this race weekend.
After a brief break, they return to the monitor with Laborious tires as the nice and cozy Qatar night time units in. Charles is the primary to exit, launching after warming up the tires. Two minutes later, Sainz follows go well with, additionally on white-banded Pirellis, after a slight front-load adjustment. The crimson automobile appears well-balanced in the intervening time. The efficiency in Sector 3, with the quickest corners of the monitor, is notable, because the Ferraris are at present the quickest there. There may be extra problem in Sector 1, the place the tires, maybe by alternative, don’t but look like within the optimum temperature vary.
Charles does effectively, however Carlos Sainz performs even higher, beating him by three-tenths. It appears the crimson automobiles begin their laps with decrease temperatures, inflicting slight difficulties within the first sector. Nevertheless, this appears to repay as the remainder of the lap maintains steady temperatures. Total, the stability appears excellent, with no mid-corner snaps, and the downforce is steady. They now transfer on to race-pace simulations. Leclerc radios in, asking if there’s a problem with the automobile as he feels the brake pedal is behaving surprisingly.
The high-fuel assessments are temporary, with a complete of 4 laps for the Monegasque and 7 for the Spaniard, primarily confirming the sooner observations. Charles returns to the pits first to suit Medium tires. Carlos Sainz follows go well with. As earlier than, the 2 crimson automobiles full only one lap on the Mediums with out pushing earlier than returning to the pits. For the ultimate stint, they swap to Delicate tires. This part will reveal a lot about tire efficiency, because the Laborious tires have a wider temperature window, whereas the red-banded Pirellis require a narrower vary to function successfully.
Riccardo Adami and Bryan Bozzi instruct the usage of the “Tyre 1” mode to optimize the activation of the Delicate tires. The additional grip considerably advantages the 2 Ferrari automobiles, which appear very effectively arrange on the monitor. Leclerc clocks the quickest lap however nonetheless requests and receives a front-load adjustment: plus three. Sainz, nevertheless, struggles extra with the Softs and doesn’t discover the correct confidence to push on his first lap. On the radio, he mentions understeer and notes visitors as an element. After a double cool-down lap, they try one other run.
On his second try, Charles Leclerc improves his time once more regardless of encountering visitors in Sector 1 and making two small errors in Turns 4 and 5. Carlos Sainz additionally improves however stays nearly six-tenths off his teammate’s time. In conclusion, the crimson automobile, particularly with Leclerc, has demonstrated wonderful tire administration, saving the tires within the first sector. It’s price noting that automobile quantity 16 is provided with the brand new experimental ground, which, at this level, ought to undoubtedly stay on the automobile for not less than qualifying and the Dash Race.
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