Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc secured pole place and fought to win the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix final yr, however he admits the Maranello staff might need made life extra “troublesome” for themselves heading into this season’s occasion which is about to happen on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada, USA, on Saturday, November 23.
The 20 drivers on the pinnacle of motorsport will roll the cube in Sin Metropolis as soon as extra subsequent season. Charles Leclerc hopes the Italian facet can ship an improved efficiency on the Las Vegas Grand Prix after a difficult outing in São Paulo, the place he completed fifth and Carlos Sainz suffered a crash.
McLaren additionally prolonged their lead within the Constructors’ Championship barely in Brazil, thanks largely to a one-two end within the F1 Dash. Carlos Sainz’s dominant win on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix had introduced Ferrari inside 29 factors of McLaren. Nevertheless, the Scuderia now path their rivals by 36 factors.
Charles Leclerc acknowledges that Ferrari’s enhancements in tire administration would possibly pose challenges in Las Vegas
Ferrari tailored shortly to the distinctive situations confronted in the course of the inaugural Las Vegas GP in 2023. With an area begin time of 10:00 PM on Saturday night time, it grew to become one of many coldest occasions on the calendar, resulting in extraordinarily low grip ranges all through the weekend.
Carlos Sainz in contrast the 2023 Las Vegas GP situations to “driving on ice,” whereas Mercedes’ George Russell described it as “actually harmful” beneath the security automobile. Charles Leclerc now anticipates that equally chilly temperatures may current new challenges for Ferrari on the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Preliminary climate predictions point out air temperatures may dip to round 41–42°F (5–5.5°C) throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. The Monegasque driver, nonetheless, stays skeptical about Ferrari’s means to deal with such chilly situations as successfully as they did in the course of the 2023 Las Vegas GP. This concern arises regardless of the staff’s enhancements in tire administration, which can not translate as nicely to the colder temperatures anticipated.
“I believe on paper it’s a observe the place we must be performing nicely,” – the Monegasque driver defined in a current interview for the Spanish media – “Nevertheless, the truth that we’ve improved quite a bit in tyre administration this yr most likely signifies that on a observe the place it’s so chilly, it’s going to be troublesome to get the tyres into the proper temperature and within the excellent window. However, on paper, it nonetheless appears to be like constructive – possibly not as constructive as final yr. However, nonetheless how shut every part is, I believe we’ll have an opportunity to win it.” – he identified.
Charles Leclerc’s issues may open the door for Purple Bull to capitalize
The 2024 System 1 season has delivered some of the aggressive campaigns in current reminiscence, with Purple Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes all claiming Grand Prix victories. Amongst these, the constructors’ championship battle stays fierce, with Purple Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren separated by simply 49 factors.
If Charles Leclerc’s fears that Ferrari’s developments in tyre administration might backfire on the Las Vegas GP show correct, each McLaren and Purple Bull might be wanting to seize the chance. Purple Bull, particularly, might be eager to use any mistake to strengthen their place and defend their constructors’ title.
Heading to Las Vegas, Purple Bull will doubtless carry higher confidence than McLaren and, probably, Ferrari as nicely. The staff has already demonstrated their prowess in Sin Metropolis, with Max Verstappen successful the inaugural Las Vegas GP in 2023 and Sergio Perez securing third place. Their strategic edge allowed them to outmaneuver pole-sitter Charles Leclerc, leaving little doubt about their means to thrive beneath comparable circumstances.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
