With a deadly one-two, McLaren places a critical maintain on the Constructors’ Championship. The Abu Dhabi qualifying periods verify the state of grace of the Woking group, appreciated all through the weekend, softening the remorse for sudden points at Ferrari. The Scuderia seems reinvigorated by the last-minute changes to the setup, although it’s clear that bringing the championship again to Maranello would require a feat. Larger hope lies with Haas, who, with the extraordinary Nico Hulkenberg, goals to reclaim sixth place within the championship.
In Abu Dhabi, each title contenders choose for the same setup technique, specializing in a excessive degree of aerodynamic downforce to warmth the tires shortly and restrict their slip, paying the worth of being the slowest within the pace traps on the finish of the straight. Nonetheless, the method pays off for each groups, particularly for Woking. In contrast to Ferrari, McLaren manages to make the distinction within the technical third sector, gaining not less than two-tenths on all the competitors.
The ultimate sector of Abu Dhabi is characterised by a sequence of quick, medium-low pace corners, paying homage to these road circuits that favor nook exit traction. It’s no coincidence that on this part McLaren shows a dominance just like what was seen in Singapore and Zandvoort. With regards to controlling rear tire overheating, the MCL38 proves to be the very best automobile, a power that secures a stronghold on the Abu Dhabi victory, together with the Constructors’ title. “When there are medium-speed corners, it appears like we’re the very best automobile,” confirms Andrea Stella. The effectiveness within the third sector lays the very best groundwork for tire administration in the course of the race, with McLaren aiming to keep up the lead within the first half earlier than pulling away after the pit cease, when the MCL38 turns into extra aggressive with an empty gas tank.
“I imagine in miracles,” says Charles Leclerc in entrance of the journalists within the paddock. In reality, at this level, a supernatural intervention can be wanted to permit Ferrari to regain the Constructors’ Championship. Nonetheless, there’s excellent news for the Scuderia, having regained competitiveness after a tough trio of free apply periods. “We modified the automobile fairly a bit from FP3, and I feel we went in the appropriate route,” says the Monegasque driver. In qualifying, Ferrari succeeds the place it had struggled as much as that time, attacking the time with tires prepared from the beginning and matching McLaren’s occasions within the first sector.
Total, the SF-24 seems way more balanced than at first of the weekend, with Carlos Sainz coming simply 9 thousandths behind Oscar Piastri in second. It’s recognized that Ferrari is extra aggressive within the race than in qualifying, however the long-term tempo stays an unknown after the poor outcomes on Friday with the earlier setup configuration. Carlos Sainz could have the daunting job of defeating the 2 McLarens, whereas a comeback from the again for Leclerc appears much more unlikely, particularly now probably with a totally new energy unit. If mandatory, Maranello will work in a single day to good probably the most aggressive engine mapping doable, in an try to make that miracle occur during which the Scuderia continues to imagine.
Max Verstappen will begin from fourth place, reflecting on the constraints of the RB20 uncovered by the Abu Dhabi observe: “We all know we’re good in medium and high-speed corners, however right here there are some which are extra medium-low pace. This has at all times been a little bit of our weak spot.” But, the world champion reveals first-row potential however misses out on the ultimate decisive lap.
Purple Bull deserves credit score for fixing the understeering points from Friday. Nonetheless, in qualifying, Verstappen complains a couple of stability that evolves by the varied phases of nook entry, mid-corner, and exit. The Dutch driver doesn’t miss the chance to set the event agenda for 2025: “We all know that if we clear up our issues, we’d discover a number of time per lap. It must be finished as a result of the stability oscillations make it very tough to discover a good compromise with the instruments we’ve got within the automobile. We have to work on this for subsequent 12 months.” The final qualifying of the season is the right image of Purple Bull on the finish of the 12 months: a automobile as soon as once more aggressive and combating for prime positions, however nonetheless removed from perfection and beatable.
After the thrill of Las Vegas and Qatar, the Silver Arrows return to the again of the grid. Lewis Hamilton, eradicated in Q1, suffers from the influence of a cone hit on the finish of the ultimate sector, in addition to a preparation lap closely hindered by site visitors. George Russell, then again, advances to Q3 however solely manages seventh place. In contrast to earlier occasions, the Yas Marina circuit and temperatures don’t spotlight Mercedes’ strengths, with the group’s weekend preparations influenced by experiments on the setup to enhance their understanding of floor impact for 2025.
“We tried some fairly drastic issues with the automobile,” confirms Russell. “In the previous few weekends, there have been a number of Dash races, so we virtually obtained into the mentality that this was a take a look at weekend for us. Lots was finished on the automobile, and we tried quite a few issues, and I feel perhaps we obtained misplaced.” The group is now making ready for a closing race that’s unlikely to convey a lot pleasure, aiming to shut out 2024 and deal with the brand new season as quickly as doable.
Behind the grid, the opposite world battle unfolds, this one for sixth place. The penalty drops Haas’ Hulkenberg to seventh, however the potential proven all through the weekend suggests an attacking race. “The traits of this observe swimsuit our automobile. a part of our improvement has targeted on medium-speed corners, and there are various of these right here,” displays the German. The aim might be to get better 6 factors on Alpine, which struggled all through the weekend earlier than regaining competitiveness on the final minute, with Gasly ranging from the third row. Simply behind, Valtteri Bottas will begin, managing the feat of qualifying the Sauber into Q3, confirming its progress. The longer term Audi group arrives on the final race with new updates to the ground, which may also be evaluated in the course of the Tuesday assessments forward of 2025. Nonetheless, Binotto has been clear: the aim might be to win by 2030.
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