Ferrari should give its all within the twenty third race of the 2024 F1 season. There is no such thing as a different option to preserve the championship dream alive. A title bid that slipped away in Could, as we’ll by no means tire of recalling, when the technical division led by Italian aerodynamicist and former Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile launched a deceptive aerodynamic replace. That flooring upset Ferrari’s plans and made the 2 SF-24 vehicles troublesome to deal with.
Returning to the current, let’s take an in depth have a look at how occasions unfolded for the Maranello group on the 5.419-kilometre Lusail Worldwide Circuit: all vehicles are on the beginning grid. The Ferrari drivers are about to get into their vehicles, and focus is at its peak.
Earlier than beginning, listed here are the environmental circumstances: air temperature at 19.4°C, monitor floor temperature at 23.6°C. Humidity is pretty excessive at 55%, with a 2.2 kilometers per hour wind blowing from the north. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are lastly of their vehicles after the mechanics accomplished the same old checks: energy unit, transmission, braking system, and hybrid system. Ferrari race engineers Riccardo Adami and Bryan Bozzi present the ultimate briefings on pre-race operations. Minutes earlier than the reconnaissance lap, the Ferrari drivers are knowledgeable in regards to the tire decisions of their direct opponents.
All drivers have chosen Pirelli yellow-banded tires, apart from Nico Hülkenberg, who opted for the Exhausting compound to increase the primary stint. The set up lap could be very fast for everybody. Earlier than repositioning on the grid, the same old 4 burnouts happen, utilizing the RB place 1 mapping to warmth the rear tire compounds with brake warmth. At first, Leclerc surprises Piastri and overtakes him, whereas Carlos Sainz holds his place. Inside one lap, the primary Security Automobile is deployed following a collision between Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto.
Beneath double yellow flags, tire administration turns into important. Marshals work to clear the monitor whereas Ferrari drivers deal with sustaining the goal tire temperature. The K1 overboost is activated and can be utilized till Flip 1 to assault or defend. The pack regroups on the finish of lap 4 for the restart. Sadly, Piastri makes use of DRS to regain his place from Charles Leclerc. The 2 Ferraris are actually fifth and sixth. They intention to maintain tempo with the leaders whereas managing their tires.
Important tire saving is important, which doesn’t assist race tempo. Consequently, the hole between the SF-24s and the lead group widens rapidly. Charles Leclerc factors out that this technique of managing the compounds is inflicting them to lose time, however Bryan Bozzi insists on persistence. Technique discussions flip to Plan A after ten laps. The plan probably entails a one-stop technique, switching to Exhausting tires. They inform Carlos Sainz that Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes is experiencing graining.
Carlos Sainz asks if the identical difficulty is happening on the McLarens. Nonetheless, on-board footage of the MCL38s exhibits no indicators of it. By lap 15, Ferrari’s pit wall offers the go-ahead to extend tempo, regularly however with out overdoing it. Observing the Ferraris’ dealing with, their strains are clear at this stage, although there may be nonetheless a slight understeer. Shortly afterward, the drivers are requested for a tire part replace to evaluate compound circumstances and refine the race tire technique.
Charles Leclerc acknowledges the scenario however speaks up on the radio, requesting a verify on the tire pressures, which he feels are usually not optimum. The group runs a verify and informs the Monegasque that every thing is continuing as deliberate. Moreover, it’s famous that some lifting is important at Flip 14, although the race tempo at this stage is stable. In truth, a part of the hole between the Ferraris and Piastri has been closed. It’s time to push onerous on this stint to get as shut as doable and doubtlessly try an undercut on the McLaren driver.
Nonetheless, the hole doesn’t lower, as these forward are additionally pushing onerous. By lap 23, the scenario stays unchanged. Basically, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are faster on this first stint, whereas Russell and Piastri are matching Charles Leclerc’s tempo. Carlos Sainz is barely behind, shedding floor to his teammate. George Russell pits on lap 24 to modify to Exhausting tires, a bit sooner than Ferrari’s estimates. Observing the dashboard of automobile #16 on lap 27, it’s famous that the left-side tires are at temperature, whereas the right-side tires are barely cooler.
The reason being easy: the distinctive traits of the monitor structure. Curiously, the Ferrari drivers obtain totally different suggestions in regards to the Exhausting tires. On Carlos’s radio, the activation of the white-banded tires is described as regular and as anticipated. Bozzi, nonetheless, mentions difficulties, requiring extra time for activation. This means the vehicles deal with tire warm-up in another way. On lap 30, George Russell finds himself caught in site visitors after his pit cease, whereas the 2 Ferraris comply with the McLarens, making an attempt to keep up a superb tempo.
The hole stays unchanged, whereas Carlos Sainz struggles extra with tire administration, notably the entrance tires, that are regularly degrading. Sainz requests a pit cease because the entrance tires are shot and seems to be struggling a gradual puncture. Certainly, the entrance tire fails, costing the Spaniard important time. He manages to return to the pits to have his tires modified, however the timing couldn’t be worse: as he re-enters the pits, the Security Automobile is deployed. Charles Leclerc takes benefit of this by pitting and saving time.
Since Piastri had pitted the lap earlier than, Charles Leclerc emerges forward of the Australian upon returning to the monitor. Carlos Sainz, in the meantime, is in eighth place, simply behind Russell. Beneath double yellow flags, the vehicles are compelled to cross via the pit lane to permit marshals to clear the monitor. The excellent news for Ferrari is that Charles has closed the 10-second hole he had amassed through the first stint and is now behind the highest two. On lap 40, the Security Automobile leaves, and the drivers resume racing. This time, Charles Leclerc should keep away from being caught by Oscar Piastri.
Charles Leclerc doesn’t get a powerful restart and has to struggle onerous to maintain Piastri behind him, however he manages to take action. It’s a tricky battle to maintain the automobile on monitor. Sainz positive factors a place and strikes as much as seventh place. Inside a lap, the Security Automobile is deployed once more resulting from particles on the monitor. Activating the Exhausting tires proves to be an actual problem, with Leclerc describing it on the radio as a nightmare. The pit wall has no particular options, suggesting the same old mappings and zig-zag maneuvers for the entrance tires. On lap 43, the race resumes on chilly tires, utilizing the K1 mode till Flip 1.
Charles Leclerc makes an attempt to slipstream Norris however finds no alternative to overhaul on the skin of Flip 1, because the Briton skillfully blocks all paths. Sainz additionally fails to realize any positions. The brand new risk is Oscar Piastri, glued to the rear of automobile #16, with 14 laps remaining. The Ferrari tires are under temperature, as seen on the dashboard. On lap 45, excellent news arrives: McLaren receives a 10-second penalty for not respecting a yellow flag.
Charles Leclerc, now in third, is nearly in second place. Norris is compelled to pit and reenters in fifteenth place. Sainz, in sixth, tries to overhaul Gasly with out success. Whereas it’s not a whole McLaren catastrophe, the penalty to Norris appears harsh, as different drivers additionally appeared to disregard the yellow flag. For Ferrari, it’s essential to maintain Piastri in third place, behind a Leclerc giving every thing he’s received.
Carlos Sainz’s purpose is to overhaul Pierre Gasly in any respect prices and safe fifth place. In the meantime, Max Verstappen is in a league of his personal, pulling away from everybody. Charles Leclerc is pushing onerous as Oscar Piastri stays inside putting distance, simply over a second behind. That is the scenario with six laps to go. Sadly, Sainz isn’t driving effectively, showing tense and making a mistake on the ultimate nook, shedding contact. The battle continues relentlessly.
There are moments of nice rigidity on monitor. Carlos catches as much as Gasly and makes an attempt to overhaul however is unsuccessful. The 2 race engineers present most assist to the Ferrari drivers. Riccardo Adami on the radio urges Carlos Sainz to maintain pushing, as Ferrari want this outcome. The Spanish driver offers it his all however fails to cross the Alpine’s French driver, however is sadly unable to take action.
Contemplating the ultimate positions, Ferrari positive factors 9 factors on McLaren, lowering the hole to 21. Regardless of a weekend the place Ferrari was weaker than McLaren, the end result wasn’t too unhealthy.
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