At Ferrari, there was no hiding: the Qatar GP wouldn’t be favorable for the SF-24. Actually, the Scuderia was compelled to play defensively to restrict the injury within the constructors’ standings towards McLaren, which discovered the Losail circuit extra suited to the traits of its automobile. Thus, Ferrari approached the Dash classes first and qualifying later absolutely respecting these expectations, left with a bitter style after a promising first apply session.
Nevertheless, over time, the efficiency of the SF-24 improved, though it was not akin to the leaders, with McLaren proving superior within the Dash classes (higher than a nervous and understeering Ferrari). This was a problem that the workforce’s engineers couldn’t resolve earlier than Parc Fermé forward of the race qualification, the place the SF-24 continued to underperform, ending behind McLaren, Mercedes, and Pink Bull. Through the race, up till the chaotic finale, the scenario appeared unchanged—lower than splendid for the battle for the constructors’ title—with McLaren seemingly in higher form and lengthening their lead within the standings. Nevertheless, the ultimate laps, aided by Charles Leclerc’s restart and Norris’s harsh penalty for not slowing underneath yellow flags, allowed Ferrari to overturn the scenario, ending second and sixth with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, narrowing the hole to their papaya-colored rivals and suspending the constructors’ title combat to the ultimate race in Abu Dhabi.
A tense and chaotic race, analyzed by Ferrari’s workforce principal Fréd Vasseur on Sky Sport F1. Fred Vasseur first expressed his satisfaction at deferring the constructors’ title choice to Abu Dhabi, then delved into the chaotic race finale and subsequent penalties imposed on Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
“It’s good that the championship might be determined in Abu Dhabi. Talking of the penalties, we are able to’t argue about them, however concerning the mirror difficulty, we are able to actually say that the Security Automobile may have been deployed earlier. It will have been much less harmful. This occurred throughout Leclerc’s overtaking of Bottas. However it was unlucky for everybody. It’s simple to remark now; it will have been higher to deploy a VSC and clear the monitor, however I imagine they didn’t anticipate all the pieces that occurred. It was off the racing line, however on the road used for overtaking.”
The Ferrari boss was then requested in regards to the technique adopted, which was very conservative within the first laps when Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc had been instructed to not push to keep away from tire put on however finally collected a big hole from the leaders.
“We weren’t nervous about degradation; it was merely our plan: handle for 7-8 laps, and the drivers dealt with it nicely. Solely after that did we push. We introduced ahead the cease, however I feel the technique was good.”
Moreover, the French supervisor commented on the choice to not match Gentle tires on Charles Leclerc’s automobile within the remaining laps to problem McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. It was a alternative deemed too dangerous by the workforce in purple…
“No, we pitted two laps earlier and had been assured within the Exhausting tires to push to the tip. We thought-about becoming the Softs, however we might have needed to handle them in a different way. Plus, a pit cease can at all times current dangers.” – the French supervisor identified.
Lastly, an inevitable query in regards to the constructors’ title battle, which can finally be determined in Abu Dhabi—a monitor extra suited to Ferrari, the place the whole workforce will give it their all till the final nook of the final lap of the 2024 System 1 season.
“Let’s get by this race first. We’re nonetheless within the combat; something is feasible. We will give attention to McLaren. We’re forward of Pink Bull, and Abu Dhabi will go well with us higher. With Max within the combine and Mercedes within the pack, all the pieces might be unsure. We’ll push like loopy till the final lap, and we’ll see.”
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