The beginning of a brand new chapter within the championship begins in Baku. With Monza marking the tip of the European leg of the 2024 Method 1 season, McLaren has emerged as some of the aggressive groups throughout circuits in Europe. This units the stage for McLaren MCL38 single-seater to be a prime contender once more in Azerbaijan, because the championship strikes away from spacious European tracks with huge corners to a mixture of circuits with various circumstances and climates.
McLaren poised for assault
Baku kicks off this section, with a circuit not as quick as Monza’s, averaging 215 kilometers per hour per lap in comparison with Monza’s 260 kilometers per hour. Regardless of this, Baku’s lengthy straights demand a low-downforce setup, a configuration that not poses a difficulty for McLaren, not like a yr in the past. The Woking crew now has a spread of low-drag wings and beam wing choices, up to date between Spa and Monza, giving them an edge over Pink Bull.
McLaren’s largest energy stays the huge working window of the MCL38, essential on a observe the place circumstances can range considerably. This consists of the asphalt temperature, with the shadows of buildings creating various temperature and grip ranges throughout the circuit. Moreover, the wind, all the time current, is channeled unpredictably by the encircling buildings.
Ferrari optimistic, Pink Bull a query mark
Scuderia Ferrari additionally appears to Baku with optimism. The road circuit incorporates a constant format of brief, sluggish, 90-degree corners that spotlight traction and mechanical grip, areas the place Ferrari feels assured in matching McLaren. The absence of lengthy, high-speed corners typical of European circuits removes a weak point Ferrari struggled with over the summer time.
All eyes, nonetheless, are on Pink Bull following their struggles in Italy. The Monza circuit was a catastrophe for the reigning champions, and they’re unlikely to face one other such troublesome weekend. That mentioned, the Milton Keynes crew remains to be looking for options to the stability problems with the RB20. Baku’s sequence of equally paced corners may assist them discover a higher stability, however the want for a low-downforce setup received’t permit them to cover the inherent dealing with challenges of the RB20.
Mercedes additionally stays within the combine. Tracks that spotlight traction and rear tire administration are not as troublesome for them as they have been earlier within the yr. Nonetheless, the crew in Brackley remains to be grappling with a automobile extremely delicate to exterior circumstances, resulting in inconsistent efficiency. The W15, which received in July however struggled after the summer time break, might nonetheless problem for victory within the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, relying on how effectively they arrange the automobile.
Rising tire degradation
In Baku, Pirelli will once more convey its softest compounds—C3, C4, and C5—which, mixed with a clean, low-grip observe floor, will make it difficult to extract peak efficiency over a single lap. The September date for this race, versus April, additionally brings increased ambient temperatures, doubtless rising tire degradation, which is often low on this observe.
As all the time, tire administration shall be a key side of the weekend, however braking efficiency shall be simply as essential. The Baku circuit has 11 braking zones, with 7 of them involving decelerations exceeding 4 g. Essentially the most intense braking happens at turns 1 and three, the place drivers expertise as much as 4.7 g, main Brembo to fee the circuit as 4 out of 5 by way of braking severity.
Key variables
The 2024 Method 1 season has proven how strategic choices and unpredictable moments could make all of the distinction in a battle usually determined by hundredths of a second. One of the crucial important variables in Baku is slipstreaming on the over 2-kilometer-long start-finish straight, the place crew techniques and qualifying methods have usually come into play.
Beginning grid place is especially necessary on this circuit, the place overtaking isn’t as simple because the lengthy DRS zones counsel. Excessive prime velocity alone isn’t sufficient to go; the automobile additionally wants to remain near the one in entrance by the tight center sector. If on-track overtaking proves too troublesome, frequent Security Automotive or Digital Security Automotive durations supply strategic alternatives, making the Azerbaijan Grand Prix some of the unpredictable races of the yr.
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