Scuderia Ferrari approaches the Qatar dash race, the final of the 2024 System 1 World Championship, with the need to provide its finest. Sadly, qualifying went poorly for the Maranello workforce. The explanations are primarily attributable to 2 components. We confer with the shortcoming to handle the environmental circumstances of the aggressive context and, consequently, to the activation and upkeep of the goal temperatures on the tires. A state of affairs already seen and bitterly skilled throughout different race weekends, the place the 2 SF-24 automobiles have been unable to extract most efficiency. And it’s actually a disgrace, as a result of on the 5.419-kilometre Lusail Worldwide Circuit in Qatar the Italian aspect may have accomplished properly.
The potential is there, and this might even be seen as excellent news. Nonetheless, the standard incapacity to carry out at their finest dashes the hopes of the Prancing Horse in nurturing the dream of the Constructors’ World Championship. McLaren was, and has confirmed to be, the favourite. Right now, within the Dash Race, it clearly aimed to safe a one-two end that would seal the title for the British workforce. Ferrari may have the possibility to regulate the setup of its automobiles earlier than the second qualifying session—a transfer that the Maranello workforce now intends to make however didn’t think about worthwhile yesterday.
And but it was, as a result of the cooler-than-expected temperatures on the Losail observe created a state of affairs totally different from what was anticipated within the simulator. There’s nothing left to do however push and “give it every little thing,” as Ferrari workforce principal Frederic Vasseur acknowledged within the normal pre-weekend discussions with media from around the globe. As a result of, till confirmed in any other case, in trendy System 1, you by no means know what would possibly occur. Most focus, readability at the beginning, and a race through which injury limitation have to be the objective. This was the goal of a workforce that may nonetheless carry out properly over the course of the Qatari weekend.
Now let’s take an in depth take a look at how occasions unfolded for the 2 Ferrari drivers within the Qatar dash race primarily based on the onboard footage from the 2 SF-24 single-seaters:
There at the moment are only some minutes left earlier than the beginning of the 100 kilometer race. The automobiles are lined up on the beginning grid. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are about to climb aboard their automobiles after reviewing the newest data with their respective engineers. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how the beginning is managed. On one hand, the necessity to push to get better some positions at the beginning. On the opposite, the need of not excessively stressing the tires, thereby shortening the helpful lifetime of the rubber, which, it must be remembered, should final the whole stint with out being changed. Therefore, the necessity to handle them as successfully as potential.
Let’s check out the overall circumstances earlier than diving into the narrative: the air temperature is 21.4°C, and the observe floor temperature is 26.7°C. Humidity is pretty excessive at 53%, and the wind blows from the north at 3.8 kilometers per hour. We’re ready for the reconnaissance lap. It’s value declaring that the observe floor is about 5°C hotter, and temperatures will rise considerably through the race. It would due to this fact be attention-grabbing to grasp how tire degradation is managed. Routine communication checks are going down, with Carlos Sainz taking the chance to debate the entrance wing in relation to the downforce load put in on the entrance finish to make sure correct stability.
The Ferrari drivers are knowledgeable that everybody within the prime ten has chosen the scrubbed Medium compound, the identical tire utilized by the 2 SF-24s. Engines are fired up. Throughout the set up lap, the objective is to achieve the goal temperature earlier than repositioning on the beginning grid. Carlos Sainz performs 4 burnouts to warmth his rear tires, whereas Charles does 4.5. We’re prepared, ready just for the inexperienced mild. The Spaniard will get off to a poor begin and, in attempting to defend towards his teammate’s assaults, barely hinders him, permitting Lewis Hamilton to take benefit and move Charles Leclerc.
Oscar Piastri exhibits nice talent, overtaking George Russell at the beginning, placing the 2 McLarens in control of the race. The grip for the Italian automobiles will not be nice. Furthermore, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are instructed to save lots of tires in turns 9 and 14. Observing the dashboard of the Ferrari automobiles, it’s noticeable that the tires stay beneath their very best temperature till lap 3, when the compounds start offering extra grip. Additional care is suggested for the tires in turns 5 and 12 as properly. The 2 Ferraris regularly achieve confidence; Carlos Sainz closes in on the highest three, whereas the Monegasque driver stays behind Lewis at a secure distance in the interim.
Saturation in flip 7 have to be monitored on this System 1 period that many name “tire formulation,” which persistently repeats the identical tiresome thread, considerably limiting efficiency. An additional gear in flip 4 for the Spaniard, one level much less on the mid-corner differential for Charles Leclerc to assist rotation—these are the ideas given to the Ferrari drivers on lap 7. The mini race is moderately predictable. Nothing noteworthy occurs on the entrance. With ten laps remaining, it seems the Monegasque is closing in on Hamilton’s Mercedes.
Steadily, the pack compresses, with the highest six automobiles inside a five-second span. Charles Leclerc pushes onerous and, on lap 12, manages to overhaul his future teammate utilizing the drag discount system on the finish of the principle straight. Carlos Sainz makes an attempt to shut in on George Russell, who, in flip, is glued to Oscar Piastri’s rear wing. Curiously, the 2 Ferrari automobiles usually are not affected by understeer, whereas the 2 McLarens exhibit slight over-rotation, primarily as a result of their aggressive cornering. The race slips away with simply three laps remaining.
The Spanish driver didn’t relent for a second however was by no means capable of problem the drivers forward. In the meantime, the Monegasque reclaimed the place he misplaced to his future Ferrari teammate at the beginning of the Qatar dash race. George Russell made quite a few makes an attempt to overhaul the Australian driver in entrance of him, however the latter defended skillfully all through. No matter whether or not one likes the Dash Race format, this observe doesn’t appear suited to it, given the format and environmental circumstances that restrict pleasure.
Scuderia Ferrari due to this fact pays a heavy worth for a poor efficiency within the Dash qualifying session on Friday. McLaren secures 15 factors with a one-two end, whereas the Italian aspect, with fourth and fifth locations, solely earns 9 factors. This implies the hole of 24 factors will increase to 30 with two races remaining—tomorrow’s race after which the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Though the Ferrari drivers gave their throughout these 100 kilometers, the result’s definitely removed from passable.
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