Ferrari was prepared to check the SF-24 within the single free apply session for the Qatar Grand Prix. In System 1, sixty minutes is really a brief period of time to validate a setup. But, that is what all of the groups on the grid should do, understanding that already this afternoon, the primary qualifying session of the weekend will happen. This may decide the grid for the Dash Race, the place the primary essential factors for the Constructors’ Championship will likely be awarded. “Let’s give it our all”: that is the message from Frederic Vasseur to his crew after the truce between the Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz established to maintain the 2024 System 1 championship dream alive.
The Prancing Horse doesn’t arrive in Losail as the favourite, because the Italian automobiles should not significantly keen on high-speed corners. Nonetheless, the setup will intention to optimize the crimson automobiles, with the objective of extracting the utmost efficiency from them. As beforehand reported, Ferrari has determined to as soon as once more check the brand new experimental flooring. The Qatari observe is ideal for assessing the potential of this main element, a elementary component in producing downforce that, the extra steady it’s, delivers constant efficiency in all driving situations.
Now let’s take an in depth take a look at how occasions unfolded for Ferrari within the first free apply session on the 5.419-kilometre Lusail Worldwide Circuit.
The Maranello crew is able to face a really powerful problem, because the Arab circuit, along with quick corners and technical sections, requires traction phases at a lot increased speeds than typical. This session may even contain tire testing. Distinctive macro and micro floor roughness, mixed with excessive temperatures, will make tire administration much more difficult. With out additional ado, let’s soar into the SF-24 automobiles for this on-track session, which can present the primary suggestions on the standard of the work executed on the manufacturing unit.
Earlier than diving into the standard on-board protection of the Maranello automobiles, let’s check out the climate situations: air temperature is 26.5°C, observe temperature is 21.3°C. Humidity could be very low at 53%, and the wind blows from the north at 4.4 kilometers per hour. Every thing is able to hit the observe, with solely the inexperienced gentle awaited. The Ferrari drivers are of their automobiles, focusing to carry out at their finest. One final look on the telemetry after the ultimate checks on the single-seaters, and off they go.
For this primary run, each SF-24 automobiles are fitted with a set of white-banded Pirelli tires. The Laborious tires will present steady efficiency to exactly examine the automobile’s habits. The gearbox is about to place Gx3. The observe engineers emphasize the significance of activating the tires utilizing the rear brakes. In Charles Leclerc’s case, with the brand new flooring, he’s instructed to keep up a relentless velocity within the first sector. The observe nonetheless seems a bit “inexperienced,” and a few corrections may be noticed. The work program includes a number of laps with out lifting off, it appears.
In the mean time, the engine mapping is about to Engine 4, the usual configuration used throughout races. Carlos Sainz seems much less comfy than his teammate, even requesting a pit cease for a entrance wing adjustment. Nonetheless, this doesn’t occur as he prefers to proceed testing the automobile. After three consecutive laps, the crimson automobiles take a breather to chill the tires. Some recommendation is given to enhance dealing with, whereas checks are carried out on the hybrid system’s effectiveness with the assist of the motor mills.
The pattern for the crimson automobile stays the identical: an extra of rotation, particularly on exits from the sooner corners. The pit wall’s consideration is excessive, offering a sequence of insights on the automobile’s drivability. Now, the interior combustion engine is switched to most energy to collect essentially the most helpful suggestions attainable on the engine’s significance. Sainz is pressured to elevate off on account of vital site visitors, which is difficult to handle successfully on this circuit, contemplating the observe format.
Charles Leclerc appears in nice form. He positions himself forward of everybody else, regardless of utilizing a slower compound, the yellow-banded one, in comparison with the remainder of the rivals. The Spaniard additionally improves his time, though he struggles greater than the Monegasque. After about twenty minutes, the crimson automobiles enter the pit lane. Given the restricted time obtainable, the SF-24s cease of their pit containers, the place Medium compounds are fitted earlier than shortly returning to the Qatari observe floor. The work continues. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how the 2 Ferrari automobiles carry out with extra grip.
The Ferrari drivers full just one lap on the yellow-banded tires, performing a sequence of constant-speed exams earlier than returning to the storage. Observing the dashboard, it’s evident that the crimson automobiles start the lap with low front-end temperatures, with the left entrance heating up shortly on account of lateral stress. In the meantime, the rear seems to have barely extreme temperatures. These are very attention-grabbing information factors, as they assist validate the warm-up technique and decide if ways want to alter relying on the grip gained by the compounds. Undoubtedly, it is a key facet for this race weekend.
After a brief break, they return to the observe with Laborious tires as the nice and cozy Qatar evening units in. Charles is the primary to exit, launching after warming up the tires. Two minutes later, Sainz follows swimsuit, additionally on white-banded Pirellis, after a slight front-load adjustment. The crimson automobile appears well-balanced in the meanwhile. The efficiency in Sector 3, with the quickest corners of the observe, is notable, because the Ferraris are at present the quickest there. There’s extra issue in Sector 1, the place the tires, maybe by selection, don’t but look like within the optimum temperature vary.
Charles does properly, however Carlos Sainz performs even higher, beating him by three-tenths. It appears the crimson automobiles begin their laps with decrease temperatures, inflicting slight difficulties within the first sector. Nonetheless, this appears to repay as the remainder of the lap maintains steady temperatures. General, the steadiness appears superb, with no mid-corner snaps, and the downforce is steady. They now transfer on to race-pace simulations. Leclerc radios in, asking if there’s a difficulty with the automobile as he feels the brake pedal is behaving surprisingly.
The high-fuel exams are temporary, with a complete of 4 laps for the Monegasque and 7 for the Spaniard, primarily confirming the sooner observations. Charles returns to the pits first to suit Medium tires. Carlos Sainz follows swimsuit. As earlier than, the 2 crimson automobiles full only one lap on the Mediums with out pushing earlier than returning to the pits. For the ultimate stint, they swap to Comfortable tires. This part will reveal a lot about tire efficiency, because the Laborious tires have a wider temperature window, whereas the red-banded Pirellis require a narrower vary to function successfully.
Riccardo Adami and Bryan Bozzi instruct the usage of the “Tyre 1” mode to optimize the activation of the Comfortable tires. The additional grip considerably advantages the 2 Ferrari automobiles, which appear very properly arrange on the observe. Leclerc clocks the quickest lap however nonetheless requests and receives a front-load adjustment: plus three. Sainz, nevertheless, struggles extra with the Softs and doesn’t discover the suitable confidence to push on his first lap. On the radio, he mentions understeer and notes site visitors as an element. After a double cool-down lap, they try one other run.
On his second try, Charles Leclerc improves his time once more regardless of encountering site visitors in Sector 1 and making two small errors in Turns 4 and 5. Carlos Sainz additionally improves however stays nearly six-tenths off his teammate’s time. In conclusion, the crimson automobile, particularly with Leclerc, has demonstrated wonderful tire administration, saving the tires within the first sector. It’s value noting that automobile quantity 16 is supplied with the brand new experimental flooring, which, at this level, ought to undoubtedly stay on the automobile for at the least qualifying and the Dash Race.
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