Earlier than the race weekend and even earlier than the race itself, Ferrari was thought-about the favourite for victory in Las Vegas, because the lengthy straights and gradual corners suited the SF-24 properly. Nonetheless, there have been uncertainties linked to the ambient temperatures. “There are two elements at play for us: the favorable observe structure and the much less favorable ambient temperatures, given how a lot we’ve struggled to warmth the tires this 12 months. We’ll see how they steadiness out and who comes out on high this weekend,” Carlos Sainz aptly mentioned coming into the third-to-last race weekend.
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc’s assault on George Russell a results of differing tire expectations
In hindsight, the low temperatures restricted the SF-24’s efficiency; nevertheless, the favorable structure allowed the Italian crew to attain third and fourth place within the Las Vegas Grand Prix. In accordance with the Maranello crew, this end result might have been higher with improved execution in the course of the race, as each drivers may need been capable of contend for second and third place with Lewis Hamilton.
It’s equally clear that, in Las Vegas, the SF-24 was the second-best automobile on observe. Nonetheless, graining unexpectedly hampered the Italian automobile, to the purpose the place Charles Leclerc in contrast the issues skilled within the remaining kilometers on the yellow tires to these attributable to a puncture. “We struggled an excessive amount of with graining, greater than we anticipated. That’s why we couldn’t push as we needed,” Carlos Sainz said after the race. Looking back, Charles Leclerc’s assault on George Russell proved to be a mistake. Nonetheless, Ferrari didn’t anticipate such a sudden tire degradation, which additionally occurred on Carlos Sainz’s automobile, regardless of him managing the tires higher within the early laps.
Ferrari: post-race chaos amongst drivers primarily attributable to communication in want of serious revision
This additionally caught Ferrari’s strategists off guard, resulting in confusion—a problem that also arises throughout crucial moments. That is an space the place Frederic Vasseur should work extensively to supply Leclerc and Hamilton subsequent 12 months not solely with a high automobile but additionally with a crew absolutely outfitted to compete for the championship. “Las Vegas merely demonstrates that on this sport, you must execute every thing completely. We’ve completed a wonderful job when it comes to technique and race administration all through many of the 12 months, however right this moment that wasn’t the case,” Carlos Sainz rightly identified.
Poor race execution and, above all, an absence of readability have been on the root of the post-race chaos between the 2 Maranello drivers. It stemmed from unclear communication: Riccardo Adami, Carlos Sainz’s race engineer, instructed his driver to not put strain on Charles Leclerc, whereas Bryan Bozzi, Charles Leclerc’s engineer, initially informed the Monegasque that Carlos Sainz had been instructed to not overtake him, solely to later appropriate this to “he was informed to not put you beneath strain.” It’s evident that Riccardo Adami’s instruction to Carlos Sainz was not explicitly to keep away from overtaking, simply as it’s clear that the Spanish driver used his crafty to benefit from the scenario. Using his already-warmed tires and higher traction out of Flip 4, the long run Williams driver shortly overtook his Maranello teammate on the straight with out making use of strain, securing an essential podium however understandably frightening Charles Leclerc’s anger after the race, as defined by F1 knowledgeable Piergiuseppe Donadoni for autoracer
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