Ferrari was prepared to check the SF-24 within the single free observe session for the Qatar Grand Prix. In Formulation 1, sixty minutes is really a brief period of time to validate a setup. But, that is what all of the groups on the grid should do, realizing that already this afternoon, the primary qualifying session of the weekend will happen. This may decide the grid for the Dash Race, the place the primary essential factors for the Constructors’ Championship will probably be awarded. “Let’s give it our all”: that is the message from Frederic Vasseur to his workforce after the truce between the Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz established to maintain the 2024 Formulation 1 championship dream alive.
The Prancing Horse doesn’t arrive in Losail as the favourite, because the Italian automobiles should not notably keen on high-speed corners. Nevertheless, the setup will purpose to optimize the pink 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 observe is ideal for assessing the potential of this main part, a basic component in producing downforce that, the extra steady it’s, delivers constant efficiency in all driving circumstances.
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 workforce 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 ordinary. This session will 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 circumstances: air temperature is 26.5°C, observe 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. All the things is able to hit the observe, with solely the inexperienced gentle awaited. The Ferrari drivers are of their automobiles, focusing to carry out at their greatest. 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 Onerous tires will present steady efficiency to exactly research the automobile’s habits. The gearbox is ready to place Gx3. The observe 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 relentless velocity within the first sector. The observe nonetheless seems a bit “inexperienced,” and a few corrections will be noticed. The work program entails a number of laps with out lifting off, it appears.
In the intervening time, the engine mapping is ready to Engine 4, the usual configuration used throughout races. Carlos Sainz seems much less comfy 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 pink 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 pattern for the pink automobile stays the identical: an extra of rotation, particularly on exits from the quicker corners. The pit wall’s consideration is excessive, offering a sequence of insights on the automobile’s drivability. Now, the interior combustion engine is switched to most energy to assemble probably the most helpful suggestions doable on the engine’s significance. Sainz is pressured to raise off as a consequence of vital visitors, which is difficult to handle successfully on this circuit, contemplating the observe 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 opponents. The Spaniard additionally improves his time, though he struggles greater than the Monegasque. After about twenty minutes, the pink automobiles enter the pit lane. Given the restricted time obtainable, the SF-24s cease of their pit packing containers, the place Medium compounds are fitted earlier than rapidly returning to the Qatari observe 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 sequence of constant-speed assessments earlier than returning to the storage. Observing the dashboard, it’s evident that the pink automobiles start the lap with low front-end temperatures, with the left entrance heating up rapidly as a consequence 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 ways want to alter relying on the grip gained by the compounds. Undoubtedly, it is a key facet for this race weekend.
After a brief break, they return to the observe with Onerous tires as the nice and cozy Qatar evening 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 pink automobile appears well-balanced in the intervening time. The efficiency in Sector 3, with the quickest corners of the observe, is notable, because the Ferraris are at present the quickest there. There’s extra problem in Sector 1, the place the tires, maybe by selection, don’t but look like within the optimum temperature vary.
Charles does nicely, however Carlos Sainz performs even higher, beating him by three-tenths. It appears the pink 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 steadiness 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 difficulty with the automobile as he feels the brake pedal is behaving unusually.
The high-fuel assessments are transient, with a complete of 4 laps for the Monegasque and 7 for the Spaniard, basically 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 pink 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 Onerous tires have a wider temperature window, whereas the red-banded Pirellis require a narrower vary to function successfully.
Riccardo Adami and Bryan Bozzi instruct using the “Tyre 1” mode to optimize the activation of the Delicate tires. The additional grip considerably advantages the 2 Ferrari automobiles, which appear very nicely arrange on the observe. Leclerc clocks the quickest lap however nonetheless requests and receives a front-load adjustment: plus three. Sainz, nonetheless, struggles extra with the Softs and doesn’t discover the appropriate 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 pink 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 supplied 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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