Scuderia Ferrari bought essentially the most out of this weekend on the 4.381-kilometre Hungaroring circuit in Budapest, which topped McLaren, a group in a position to clearly defeat its opponents primarily based on race tempo. Lewis Hamilton did properly, whereas Max Verstappen struggled. Within the early part of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Dutchman suffered from an absence of rotation, which was additionally evident within the qualifying session. The RB20 single-seater confirmed a steadiness too shifted in direction of the rear. The Austrian group tried varied ranges of entrance load to discover a steadiness that would present the driving force with really feel. With a full tank of gas, this detrimental setup was amplified. Understeer on the apex of the nook changed into oversteer on exit, which didn’t assist protect the medium tires.
Within the very early part of the race, Lewis Hamilton managed to get shut with out with the ability to try an overtake. Mercedes managed the medium tires very properly, making an attempt an undercut on Max Verstappen by selecting the exhausting tires three laps early. On this observe, the undercut is sort of highly effective as a result of excessive degradation. The brand new Pirelli white-circled tire was due to this fact extra performant than the used exhausting tire within the preliminary laps. Given the structure and observe floor temperatures, it was not troublesome to search out adequate temperature to activate it. The 2 Ferrari SF-24 vehicles managed the medium tires accurately.
They did so by extending the stint whereas sustaining tempo, though they carried out plenty of tire administration, with the 2 Ferrari race engineers Bryan Bozzi and Riccardo Adami usually giving their drivers options on the place to restrict tire saturation. Such observe is extensively a part of Formulation 1, as with a excessive quantity of gas on board, the tires have a tendency to extend their put on.
From the primary laps, Mercedes realized that they had requested an excessive amount of of the exhausting tires to make the undercut on Max Verstappen work. The preliminary push is commonly detrimental to the tires, so this part should be balanced very properly with out risking ruining the complete stint. This example was not managed properly by the German group, which did make the tactic work however put the compounds, particularly the rear ones, below pressure. The Dutchman was in a position to put together for the overtake because of tires with a number of fewer laps on them.
In defending, Lewis Hamilton additional difficult temperature administration by successfully locking the entrance axle in flip 1. The seven-time Formulation 1 world champion significantly struggled with traction phases, because the rear tires had been usually overheating. Max Verstappen additionally confronted difficulties, with understeer reappearing even on the exhausting tires. The Dutchman used the brake steadiness knob so much, shifting the steadiness to the entrance. This transfer was ineffective, because the RB20 continued to lack rotation. It was attention-grabbing to see how the 2 Ferrari SF-24 vehicles discovered tempo on the exhausting tires.
Charles Leclerc had a extra understeering automobile on one of these tire, so for the following stint, he agreed with the mechanics to extend the incidence by 4 clicks. Ferrari managed the tires particularly in turns 4 and 11 the place plenty of power is put into the tire carcass. Thanks additionally to the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, the Monegasque lowered the hole to the 2. Then, reaching the ultimate part of the tire after temperature stabilization, Ferrari thought of a cease with Charles Leclerc to undercut Max Verstappen.
The Pink Bull group determined to extend his stint and was successfully shedding plenty of race time. The McLarens waited so long as potential to pit and change to the medium tire. The tactic was to have a compound a number of laps more energizing for the ultimate laps of the race. General, the MCL38 vehicles didn’t have a lot degradation, managing the tire fairly properly. At this stage of the 2024 Formulation 1 championship, the papaya-colored vehicles can handle the tires extra persistently at completely different ambient temperatures and on completely different layouts. Hats off to them. It’s solely truthful to offer credit score the place credit score is due.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had the identical tempo on this closing part of the race. With a lighter automobile, Ferrari labored the medium tire significantly better on this stint. It was all about balancing the temperature over the course of every lap. For that reason, the exhausting tire appeared to work a bit higher. For a similar cause, with much less gas within the automobile, the dealing with of the SF-24 improved and consequently the race tempo, however it’s clear that the Ferrari SF-24 automobile nonetheless struggles to search out pure rhythm. Mercedes selected the exhausting tire for the final a part of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
It appears this feature was not the perfect one for Lewis Hamilton, who had indicated that the white-circled tire generated an excessive amount of understeer. Clearly, as we are able to see from the telemetry knowledge evaluation, McLaren had a number of tenths benefit per lap additionally thanks to wash air. On the finish of the Hungaroring race, the Woking group difficult issues unnecessarily. Fearing that Lewis Hamilton would possibly assault them given his good tempo, they determined to pit Lando Norris early as a result of the Mercedes driver was about to enter their pit cease window.
This unintentionally induced an undercut on Oscar Piastri, who got here out behind his teammate after the cease. Therefore, it was determined to “return” the first place to the Australian, which that they had taken from him. By delaying the ultimate cease, Max Verstappen concentrated all his alternatives within the final laps, the place he had a aggressive tempo and a balanced automobile. His rhythm was just like that of the McLarens that had stopped simply earlier than to change to the medium tire. After the contact with Lewis Hamilton, nevertheless, Max Verstappen suffered varied steadiness points and his race ended behind the quantity 16 Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
Supply: FUnoanalisitecnica