Ferrari approached the twenty second spherical of the Components 1 season with a single goal: to attempt to win. This was the outcome the Scuderia aimed to attain with a view to preserve alive a dream: the Constructors’ Championship. Earlier than beginning, let’s check out the climate situations that the drivers encountered within the Las Vegas Grand Prix: air temperature at 18.3°C, monitor temperature at 19.7°C, very low humidity at 50%, and wind pace of three.2 kilometers per hour blowing from the heavy south.
Now let’s take an in depth have a look at how occasions unfolded for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz within the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Every thing is prepared with about 5 minutes remaining earlier than the beginning process begins. The Scuderia’s engineers present the standard suggestions, including that the primary 13 automobiles have opted for Medium compounds. Perez, ranging from place 14, is on Laborious tires.
Right here we go, the engines roar to life, and the drivers head out for the standard set up lap. Already throughout this lap, carry and coast is requested from each automobiles to chill the engine. Moreover, appreciable effort is positioned on tire administration. The automobiles are on the beginning grid, ready just for the inexperienced gentle. Leclerc will get off to a flying begin, overtakes Gasly and Sainz, and will get behind Russell. On lap 2, each Ferrari automobiles are instructed to make use of RB place 1 mode, a mapping that helps heat up the automobile’s rear axle by adjusting brake temperatures.
Tyre saving can be requested on lap 11. In these early phases, the Italian staff is working to stabilize tire temperatures—an important transfer not just for efficiency but additionally for managing degradation. On lap 4, Leclerc makes an attempt to assault Russell, however the Brit defends nicely. Bryan Bozzi at this level reminds the staff that tires have to be managed, and dashing right into a struggle wouldn’t be clever. It’s higher to attend a number of extra laps and see what unfolds. Because of this, the Monegasque driver leaves a small hole to Russell.
In the meantime, behind Charles, Sainz retains management of the state of affairs, conscious that Verstappen is lurking behind him. On lap 7, the tires lastly seem to succeed in their optimum working temperature. Ferrari decides to implement a method: Sainz, who has a greater tempo, is allowed to cross and chase Russell. Furthermore, observing Leclerc’s entrance tires, the everyday black marks from graining are seen. Leclerc struggles and is ultimately overtaken by Verstappen. Immediately, the Ferraris’ tires not carry out.
Because of this, automobile quantity 16 is named to the pits, switching to Laborious compounds. The next lap, Sainz can be pressured to cease, shifting to the white-banded Pirellis like his teammate. Again on monitor, the Ferrari automobiles are positioned in twelfth and thirteenth. The constructive word is that the McLarens are additionally struggling and, having stopped as nicely, stay behind. Each Ferraris discover themselves in visitors, together with Max Verstappen, who pits two laps later. Nonetheless, the Dutchman could be very expert.
The monitor engineers change into more and more insistent on tire administration. Preserving them is essential. At this stage, it appears Carlos Sainz is already experiencing slight rear graining. Technique discussions revolve round selecting Plan A, whereas contemplating Plan C on account of Sergio Perez, who began on Hards and is struggling along with his entrance tires. Finally, every part is dependent upon the graining. Turns 6 and 10 are recognized as key areas of the monitor the place tire stress have to be minimized. In the meantime, the 2 Ferraris overtake Perez and observe Verstappen, who’s in flip making an attempt to shut the hole to Russell.
Nobody anticipated such tire struggles. A state of affairs that has tremendously benefited Mercedes, a automobile that suffers considerably much less in low temperatures. Third and fourth place for the Ferraris at this second. Nonetheless, remember that Lewis Hamilton, additionally driving a W15, has recovered numerous floor and is now behind Leclerc in fifth place. Plan A is confirmed, however the potential for switching to technique C stays in play. The race is at a stalemate on lap 21, with the highest 5 posting practically equivalent lap instances.
Russell, nonetheless, has a cushion of about 9 seconds over his rivals, constructed up through the first stint due to Mercedes’ superior tire administration. In the meantime, the goal lap time is ready at 37.5 seconds. This common permits the 2 Ferraris to keep up their delta with the highest two with out over-stressing the tires. The race has turned out to be more difficult for the Italian automobiles than anticipated, that a lot is evident. Nonetheless, the 2 McLarens are behind, and the race continues to be lengthy—28 laps stay earlier than the checkered flag.
Sainz stories graining on his entrance proper tire. The Spaniard is struggling greater than his teammate in the intervening time, though Charles is going through the identical difficulty. The aggressive context dictates a method change for Carlos, who switches to Plan C and is seemingly imagined to yield his place to the Monegasque. Nonetheless, the operation is just too sophisticated as a result of Hamilton is correct behind. Finally, Leclerc passes, and the Spaniard is named to the pits. Ferrari’s pit crew isn’t prepared, and Sainz has to do one other lap, throughout which he shouts and will get very upset.
Sainz adjustments tires on the next lap and, when he returns to the Las Vegas monitor, he loses his place to Hamilton, who had modified his tires the lap earlier than. A expensive error for Ferrari, which was caught unprepared. Verstappen additionally pits, whereas Leclerc extends his second stint, momentarily taking second place. Bozzi encourages the Monegasque and asks him concerning the tires. Charles’ response is evident: “they’re crap.” Two laps later, automobile quantity 16 can be pressured to alter tires.
Again on monitor, the Ferrari driver finds himself behind his teammate. Bryan emphasizes the significance of managing the tires through the preliminary laps. The message is to keep away from pushing too laborious within the corners, which Leclerc reluctantly accepts. It couldn’t be in any other case, as the 2 SF-24s within the Las Vegas Grand Prix have by no means been in a position to push and present their true tempo on account of graining points. Verstappen isn’t far forward of the Ferraris, holding a lead of about 3 seconds. Nonetheless, the issue for Ferrari stays the identical, specifically they’ll’t push as a result of they should handle their tire compounds.
A wide range of dealing with methods are tried. For example, Sainz mentions utilizing much less steering angle to see if this method can scale back tire saturation and save the compounds. This measure seems to be considerably efficient. Max is struggling, and the Ferraris are closing in. The Italian pit wall requires warning, asking the drivers to assault the Dutchman with out inflicting any mishaps. The reigning F1 world champion is now underneath assault, however tire administration stays too essential for Ferrari at this stage.
The Maranello staff asks the drivers to attend a number of extra laps earlier than trying something. On lap 42, Sainz makes a transfer and overtakes Max, taking third place, as his race engineer Riccardo Adami congratulates him however reminds him about tire administration. Charles Leclerc additionally desires to assault, however the reigning world champion has DRS on Carlos, which helps him defend. Tire degradation stays underneath management. At this level, with six laps remaining, there may be successfully a prepare with Verstappen sandwiched between the 2 Ferraris. Carlos is requested to extend his tempo and break away from Verstappen to push him out of DRS vary.
It appeared he would possibly succeed, however the Dutchman doesn’t give in. The Spaniard provides it his all to make Charles’ assault simpler, and he lastly manages to achieve a bonus of greater than a second. The Monegasque research automobile number one and, with three laps to go, launches his assault and overtakes Max Verstappen. Sainz takes third place, nearly on the rostrum, with Leclerc in fourth. The 2 Mercedes automobiles are within the lead. Their total tempo was not superior to Ferrari’s, however their tire administration made them sooner.
Nothing important occurs through the last corners. It’s a outcome that can’t fulfill Ferrari, which had hoped for victory and a double podium. Nonetheless, there’s a constructive facet, as Ferrari features helpful factors over McLaren within the Constructors’ Championship. The hole narrows from 36 factors to 24, retaining the title hope alive. Talking of the Drivers’ Championship, Max Verstappen is topped F1 World Champion for the fourth time. Large congratulations to him, as he really made a distinction within the 2024 Components 1 title struggle with a automobile that didn’t assist him in addition to final season. Chapeau.
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