Ferrari is at a essential juncture. Extremely, it’s nonetheless competing for the 2024 System 1 Constructors’ Championship title, an surprising state of affairs. The Maranello crew started the season with a strong basis. The preliminary updates have been promising, though they didn’t totally ship the estimated features from the design part on monitor. Then, as has been the case for a while, the SF-24’s optimum working vary was misplaced this 12 months. With out this problem, issues would undoubtedly be totally different.
Final week’s Qatar Grand Prix noticed the Maranello crew claw again 3 factors from McLaren throughout the 2 races. It may have been far worse had Lando Norris not been penalized in a fairly naive method. That penalty retains the Italian crew’s hopes alive forward of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Recovering 21 factors with out help from the Woking crew itself is not going to be a straightforward activity. A hypothetical Ferrari one-two end, as an example, wouldn’t suffice if each MCL38 vehicles end proper behind Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. This highlights how difficult Ferrari’s mission is.
Ferrari crew principal Frederic Vasseur isn’t giving up, nor are the drivers. Believing till the tip prices nothing. Nonetheless, imagining the Maranello squad attaining a one-two end on the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island is tough, particularly contemplating Ferrari has by no means received in Abu Dhabi. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are nonetheless motivated, prepared to provide their all and capitalize on any errors by McLaren. A crew that, had it optimized outcomes over the season, would have already got the Constructors’ Trophy secured. This provides Ferrari a sliver of hope, dreaming of one other reward from its rivals.
The Abu Dhabi monitor encompasses a technical and complicated format, characterised by a mixture of straights and medium-speed corners that demand a steadiness between aerodynamic downforce and mechanical traction. The comparatively uniform monitor floor floor doesn’t pose important challenges in tire administration, however the area’s sometimes excessive temperatures place thermal stress on the tires, making thermal administration essential, notably within the last sector. Balancing aerodynamics and mechanics will likely be important for tackling the circuit.
The monitor rewards aerodynamic effectivity and lateral grip however penalizes compromises in rear-end administration. Ferrari arrives at a circuit that has traditionally highlighted the strengths of the Maranello automotive. Over the previous two years, the automotive has carried out persistently, adapting properly to a monitor combining straights, technical corners, and prolonged stretches. Final 12 months, the SF-23 constructed its laps primarily on nook exits, gaining from the apex onward. Nonetheless, it misplaced floor to Purple Bull in nook entry phases.
This 12 months, the SF-24 single-seater has proven a very responsive entrance finish, a characteristic that might permit Ferrari to recuperate in nook entry, an space the place weaknesses emerged in 2023. Nonetheless, traction, much less strong in comparison with final season, represents a major problem. The Maranello crew is assured, although, that it could actually optimize this facet to realize a very good end result. The direct battle with McLaren would be the focus of the weekend, as the 2 groups compete for the Constructors’ Championship title. The 2 vehicles are anticipated to “construct their lap” in an analogous method on one of these circuit.
With extra medium-speed corners in comparison with the gradual ones within the outdated System 1 format, each groups exhibit complementary traits. McLaren has considerably improved its top-speed parameter, specifically finish of straight pace, in comparison with the final System 1 season. Nonetheless, Ferrari has proven it could actually reply, making this comparability intriguing. Each groups will work on particular setups, with Ferrari probably choosing a medium-downforce wing mixed with an efficient beam wing configuration and a ground able to producing clear downforce and enhancing stability.
Managing experience heights will likely be essential to deal with any bumps alongside the circuit and keep away from compromising efficiency. Final season, a number of groups struggled with points, requesting some bumps to be flattened. Ferrari would possibly verify using its newest up to date ground, notably within the sharp edge space. In Qatar, after some constant-speed checks in the course of the first free apply session, this main part was confirmed on Charles Leclerc’s automotive. That is additionally a optimistic signal for the 2025 System 1 automotive, because it signifies that they’re presently discovering correlation between simulation environments and the monitor.
The compromise between aerodynamics and mechanics will likely be decisive. The historic Maranello crew would possibly select a barely softer setup to maximise suspension efficiency on the monitor’s irregularities and enhance cornering grip, whereas McLaren would possibly go for stiffer options to reinforce the effectivity of the floor-diffuser group, a key issue of their effectiveness in medium-speed corners final 12 months. In any case, the automotive’s general steadiness will likely be a central focus all through the weekend to optimize efficiency.
Tire administration will likely be a key issue. It is going to be important to keep up optimum rear-end temperatures, particularly within the last sector, the place minor sliding may push the rear axle out of its supreme working window. Final 12 months, Ferrari accomplished the primary sector with the rear finish beneath the goal temperature and might want to work on enhancing this to make sure constant tire administration all through the lap. The strategic alternative of tires and their dynamic administration will likely be essential to the ultimate results of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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