Within the twenty second qualifying session of the 2024 Method 1 championship, Scuderia Ferrari continued the work with the gentle compound that started through the last free follow session on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada with out making vital setup adjustments. The low-drag rear wing, which is the specification beforehand seen within the Italian Grand Prix on the Monza circuit was confirmed, whereas each SF-24 vehicles ran the usual ground specification, with out the up to date edge particulars. From a dealing with perspective, there was a basic extra of rotation, with steadiness shifting noticeably towards the rear at decrease speeds.
This attribute precipitated slight understeer on nook entry in sure areas, akin to Flip 7. Ferrari centered extensively on tire preparation, which required appreciable work even throughout the qualifying session itself. The Maranello group regularly communicated with the drivers through radio, suggesting methods like weaving on straights to create a thermal cycle that might generate ample temperature within the entrance tires at first of a lap. Sustaining this temperature was additionally essential, because the lengthy straights precipitated it to drop under the goal vary.
This situation, notably on the tire tread, was intently monitored, with the group aiming to make the most of a level of understeer to warmth the tire floor. Finally, this influenced the technique for warm laps. The principle query was whether or not to incorporate an extra preparation lap past the out-lap. In Q3, Ferrari opted to not carry out a preparation lap, not like Purple Bull, as we are going to see later. In the meantime, Mercedes received their tire warm-up technique spot on, thanks additionally to the traits of the W15 automobile in low temperature circumstances. By attaining higher steadiness, they managed to function their automobile throughout the optimum efficiency window.
This final result was one thing the Maranello group had struggled with in current races. With monitor temperatures at 13.5°C and ambient temperatures round 12°C, unusually chilly circumstances for Method 1, the W15 single-seater proved notably efficient. This automobile naturally overheats its rear tires and generates vital friction on the tire floor. Like Ferrari, Mercedes employed weaving through the warm-up lap however averted a prep lap. Nonetheless, with a extra superior steadiness, they had been much less affected by understeer in low- and medium-speed sections.
Optimum tire administration allowed the Brackley group to excel within the first sector, a serious weak point for Ferrari, which then needed to get well misplaced time within the the rest of the Las Vegas lap. This factors to a recurring situation with the SF-24 automobile, particularly inadequate entrance tire temperature at first of the lap. George Russell gained considerably in Turns 2, 3, and 4, primarily because of better-prepared tires that offered greater grip ranges. McLaren, then again, struggled not solely within the preliminary a part of the circuit but additionally continued shedding time between Turns 5 and 9.
Solely in Flip 5 did it lose nearly two-tenths, shedding an equal quantity within the low-speed part between Turns 7 and 9. After this part, the hole remained nearly fixed. In comparison with Ferrari, the principle limitation stays the straights, the place they’re unable to achieve on Mercedes. At low speeds, they may have extracted extra from the automobile and the Gentle tire. On nook entry, each MCL38 vehicles lacked vital grip, shedding priceless time. Lastly, Purple Bull confronted vital difficulties right here in Las Vegas.
Max Verstappen secured a fifth-place end, salvaging the outcome, whereas Sergio Perez was as soon as once more eradicated in Q1. The work performed by the Austrian group on the rear wing made headlines: the Purple Bull engineers used a Dremel to chop the trailing fringe of the extra flap, additional decreasing the wing’s chord, realizing that the one ready for Las Vegas was not sufficiently low-drag. This modification improved the highest pace however didn’t yield vital advantages over the lap, particularly when it comes to traction. From this, we are able to draw a conclusion.
In share phrases, 50% of the difficulties might be attributed to setup, which didn’t totally resolve the problems on the straights or enhance traction. The opposite 50% is because of tire warm-up. Most likely, when it comes to mechanical setup, Purple Bull needed to compromise on suspension stiffness to attempt to put vitality into the tires, particularly the entrance ones. These temperature points on the entrance axle have emerged up to now, even when the Milton Keynes group was dominant.
Lastly, we check out the telemetry knowledge and if we observe the best instances of the principle groups, we see that the majority drivers set their greatest lap in Q3 aside from Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time Method 1 world champion and future Ferrari driver, in truth, didn’t put collectively a clear lap because of his personal mistake. With out this error, his W15, quantity 44, may have reached third place, behind Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver was only one and a half-tenths behind, with all of it amassed within the opening sector.
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