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. Better hope lies with Haas, who, with the extraordinary Nico Hulkenberg, goals to reclaim sixth place within the championship.
In Abu Dhabi, each title contenders decide for the same setup technique, specializing in a excessive stage of aerodynamic downforce to warmth the tires rapidly and restrict their slip, paying the value of being the slowest within the velocity traps on the finish of the straight. Nonetheless, the strategy pays off for each groups, particularly for Woking. Not like Ferrari, McLaren manages to make the distinction within the technical third sector, gaining no less than two-tenths on your entire competitors.
The ultimate sector of Abu Dhabi is characterised by a sequence of quick, medium-low velocity corners, harking back to these avenue 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. In relation to controlling rear tire overheating, the MCL38 proves to be one of the best automotive, a energy that secures a stronghold on the Abu Dhabi victory, together with the Constructors’ title. “When there are medium-speed corners, it seems like we’re one of the best automotive,” confirms Andrea Stella. The effectiveness within the third sector lays one of the best groundwork for tire administration in the course of the race, with McLaren aiming to take care of 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 consider in miracles,” says Charles Leclerc in entrance of the journalists within the paddock. In truth, at this level, a supernatural intervention could be wanted to permit Ferrari to regain the Constructors’ Championship. Nonetheless, there’s excellent news for the Scuderia, having regained competitiveness after a troublesome trio of free observe periods. “We modified the automotive fairly a bit from FP3, and I believe we went in the fitting path,” 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 identified 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 process of defeating the 2 McLarens, whereas a comeback from the again for Leclerc appears much more unlikely, particularly now presumably with a very new energy unit. If mandatory, Maranello will work in a single day to excellent essentially the most aggressive engine mapping doable, in an try to make that miracle occur during which the Scuderia continues to consider.
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 might be extra medium-low velocity. This has all the time been a little bit of our weak spot.” But, the world champion exhibits first-row potential however misses out on the ultimate decisive lap.
Crimson Bull deserves credit score for fixing the understeering points from Friday. Nonetheless, in qualifying, Verstappen complains a few steadiness that evolves by way of the assorted 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 variety of time per lap. It must be finished as a result of the steadiness oscillations make it very troublesome to discover a good compromise with the instruments we’ve got within the automotive. We have to work on this for subsequent yr.” The final qualifying of the season is the right image of Crimson Bull on the finish of the yr: a automotive 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 impression of a cone hit on the finish of the ultimate sector, in addition to a preparation lap closely hindered by site visitors. George Russell, alternatively, advances to Q3 however solely manages seventh place. Not like 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 automotive,” confirms Russell. “In the previous few weekends, there have been a variety of Dash races, so we virtually obtained into the mentality that this was a take a look at weekend for us. Rather a lot was finished on the automotive, and we tried quite a few issues, and I believe possibly we obtained misplaced.” The group is now making ready for a ultimate race that’s unlikely to deliver a lot pleasure, aiming to shut out 2024 and concentrate on the brand new season as quickly as doable.
At the back of 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 go well with our automotive. A very good a part of our growth has centered on medium-speed corners, and there are various of these right here,” displays the German. The aim will likely be to get well 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 long run Audi group arrives on the final race with new updates to the ground, which may even be evaluated in the course of the Tuesday exams forward of 2025. Nonetheless, Binotto has been clear: the aim will likely be to win by 2030.
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