Charles Leclerc, along with his Ferrari, is sadly now not in rivalry for the 2024 Components 1 drivers’ championship. The aim was by no means actually inside attain, because the Monegasque, like his Maranello teammate Carlos Sainz, struggled with the SF-24 single-seater throughout the center a part of the season. This SF-24 automobile had misplaced its correct working level as a result of flooring mounted on the automobile throughout the Spanish Grand Prix on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. From then on, for about three months, the Ferrari automobile was now not aggressive, and although Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz did every part potential to optimize the leads to every race weekend, the automobile’s technical worth was not adequate to problem the tremendous McLaren MCL38 and even Purple Bull, who was clearly on a downward slope.
A disheartening scenario, as a result of with out this drawback, Ferrari might have fought for each Components 1 world titles this yr. Returning to type solely in September utterly destroyed the Italian group’s ambitions. Luckily, McLaren and Purple Bull didn’t carry out at their greatest. The Woking group at all times confirmed up on observe with a aggressive automobile, that is past doubt. Nevertheless, it usually made errors that prevented it from maximizing efficiency and, consequently, outcomes. In the meantime, issues had been even worse for the Milton Keynes group.
Solely Max Verstappen stored the RB20 afloat, which suffered a number of technical issues and was unable to struggle for victory. The Dutchman received the eventful race on the 4.309-kilometre Autodromo Jose Carlos Tempo in Brazil ranging from the again of the grid. A sensational success stemming from the actual observe circumstances, which the Dutchman totally exploited. It was a triumph after 5 months throughout which the three-time Components 1 world champion watched different drivers stand on the highest step of the rostrum. Reaching the ultimate a part of the championship, a triple-header set to happen between Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, Ferrari continues to be within the hunt for the World Constructors’ Championship.
The responsibility to consider is clear, because the 36-point hole at present separating the Prancing Horse from the British group permits the Maranello group to nurture this world championship dream. Nevertheless, to shut this hole, they have to not make any errors beginning with the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix. That is clear. On this regard, there’s a issue that issues Charles Leclerc and the whole group. The Monegasque himself talked about it final week, unprompted. We discuss with the state of the homologated energy models on automobile quantity 16. Struggling a penalty proper now could be extremely detrimental to their cost towards the title.
Ferrari and Charles Leclerc are due to this fact learning the work plan for the ultimate a part of the 2024 Components 1 world championship. Each F1 group manages the rotation of energy models all through a season. There’s a particular program to profit from all parts with out overstressing them. Ferrari, with the Monegasque driver, homologated the final of the 4 energy models allowed by the Worldwide Federation earlier than incurring a penalty on the Dutch Grand Prix. Since then, Charles Leclerc’ automobile has raced six Grands Prix. Inside this context, it’s price recalling a truth: a group can homologate parts however is clearly free to reuse older ones. That is a part of the aforementioned rotation.
Charles Leclerc definitely has not used the facility unit launched on the Zandvoort circuit for six races in a row. Nevertheless, a fast calculation of the 4 energy models makes it evident that all the Monegasque’s engine parts are fairly “aged.” Furthermore, doubts stay concerning the energy unit that acted up throughout the Canadian Grand Prix. The issues stemmed from the hybrid part, about which the Italian group, as is usually the case, has not launched any info. Subsequently, its situation is unknown. Alternatively, Carlos Sainz can smile. His crash within the qualifying session for the Brazilian Grand Prix allowed for the homologation of a fifth Inner Combustion Engine part.
On automobile quantity 55, the transmission and different parts had been additionally changed. Max Verstappen paid the penalty in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on the Interlagos circuit for his engine change, however regardless of ranging from seventeenth place, he in the end received. A spot-on resolution, then. For Charles Leclerc, nonetheless, issues might go in a different way if a penalty had been to be imposed. Unquestionably, the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada is a observe the place overtaking is facilitated by the structure. Thus, if Ferrari is aware of that it does in actual fact have to homologate one other energy unit for Charles Leclerc’s automobile earlier than the tip of the 2024 Components 1 season, the American circuit could be appropriate.
Nevertheless, though overtaking maneuvers are simpler on the US circuit, beneath regular circumstances, ranging from the again doesn’t assure the identical possibilities of victory. That is the dilemma the historic Maranello group should face with one week till the subsequent spherical of the championship. There may be additionally one other vital side to consider: on a observe the place the facility unit’s effectiveness makes a distinction, having a contemporary engine gives a efficiency enhance, a situation that Carlos Sainz can now totally exploit, in contrast to his Maranello teammate. Assuming {that a} new energy unit will certainly have to be homologated on Charles Leclerc’s automobile, the scenario turns into difficult.
Ferrari might compete within the Las Vegas Grand Prix by becoming the perfect remaining parts on automobile quantity 16. Doing so would imply giving their all and making an attempt to take the race victory on a observe thought of favorable based mostly on the structure and the traits of the SF-24 single-seater. Alternatively, taking a penalty on the American circuit could be simpler to handle in comparison with Qatar or Abu Dhabi. The Italian facet is due to this fact weighing this resolution, making an allowance for that risking competing with parts on the automobile that might fail is undoubtedly a state of affairs that must be prevented in any respect prices.
A retirement would logically put an finish to the dream of successful the World Constructors’ Championship this season. Recovering 36 factors on McLaren is already a major problem with simply three races remaining till the tip of the yr. The 2 MCL38 vehicles of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are flying, and Purple Bull can be pushing. Think about including to this state of affairs one of many two Ferrari SF-24 vehicles unable to attain factors over a weekend. The image forming isn’t favorable for the Maranello group. Dropping the possibility to struggle till the ultimate nook in Abu Dhabi could be devastating in a season already full of regrets for the technical errors made beneath the path of Italian aerodynamicist and former Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile.
— see video above —
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
