Scuderia Ferrari didn’t disappear from the ultimate free apply session for the Singapore Grand Prix. The changes made to the F1 automobile resulted in a brilliant balanced chassis. What didn’t work was the warm-up of the tires. An incorrect warm-up cycle that, after all, considerably decreased the grip of the SF-24 with working temperatures removed from the proper values. It’s onerous to find out if the tweaks to the setup of the automobile someway contributed to the state of affairs noticed within the final apply session. Solely these instantly concerned know. A method or one other, nonetheless, there may be time to recuperate and current themselves in the absolute best method for qualifying.
This isn’t the primary time that the Prancing Horse has suffered from such issues. Everybody will certainly keep in mind the weekend in Canada. Or, with out going too far again, let’s consider the Belgian Grand Prix the place, till Q2, automobile quantity 16 struggled to make the lower. Then, within the ultimate a part of the session, Charles Leclerc nailed the warm-up and, like magic, the efficiency elevated sufficient to even safe pole place. It stays to be seen how this example might be managed by the Italian group. It’s definitely not a easy context, but it surely doesn’t routinely condemn the Maranello group.
Singapore is an atypical monitor. A avenue circuit the place it isn’t straightforward to completely nail all the main points. Furthermore, the significance of the beginning grid is essential, as those that begin on the entrance have wonderful probabilities of profitable contemplating the issue of overtaking. Ferrari is aware of this, and for that reason, they have to do every part to compete on equal phrases with McLaren. Failing to take action could be a serious disappointment, as technically the SF-24 in Singapore configuration has proven the potential to win. All that’s left is to attend for occasions and see what occurs.
Now let’s take an in depth take a look at how occasions unfolded for the 2 Ferrari SF-24 automobiles in qualifying on the 4.94-kilometre Marina Bay Avenue Circuit:
All the pieces is prepared for the beginning of the qualifying session. Contained in the Ferrari storage, there’s a sure chatter centered on the ultimate particulars. First, let’s check out the climate situations on the evening of Singapore: 29.5°C air temperature, 32.2°C monitor floor temperature. Humidity at 80%, wind velocity of 1.1 km/h blowing from the south. The flag is inexperienced, the Ferrari drivers are of their automobiles able to hit the monitor. The sign comes, the engines begin, and off they go for this primary outing on the Malaysian asphalt. For this run, the 2 pink automobiles are fitted with a set of red-marked tires.
We’re speaking in regards to the tire that induced important difficulties for the Prancing Horse within the final a part of FP3. Subsequently, will probably be attention-grabbing to see if the group has instantly understood how one can handle this issue. Within the outlap, the rear brakes are used so much to heat up the again finish. The nice and cozy-up should be carried out correctly. Charles Leclerc speaks on the radio and addresses this side, stating that the tires have been too chilly in FP3. Bozzi suggests braking onerous in the course of the preparation lap. Then they change to push mode, let’s see what occurs.
Charles Leclerc completes a really clear lap earlier than transferring on to a double calm down lap. Carlos Sainz, then again, makes a mistake at flip 1 and prefers to elevate off to retry the nook afterward. The Spaniard additionally places collectively a very good lap. Each Ferrari drivers lose fairly a little bit of time in S1. It appears that evidently flip 7 is some extent the place the pink automobiles battle probably the most. In the course of the second try, Charles makes a mistake within the second sector, which clearly slows him down. He’s additionally not good within the third sector. Nonetheless, he improves his time. It’s a disgrace in regards to the errors as a result of the efficiency was sturdy.
Charles Leclerc decides and asks to handle the soundness of the automobile at flip 13, adjusting the brake stability. A transfer agreed upon by the group. As for the Spaniard, he registers a not wonderful lap that however mirrors the earlier one. For now, at the very least, plainly the tire downside has not offered itself. In that case, it could be an amazing aid for the Maranello group. The 2 SF-24s return to the storage, ready to see if the time checks are adequate to make the lower. Apparently not, as each pink automobiles return to the monitor.
Once more, new red-marked Pirelli tires. There may be some visitors within the pit lane, however after a couple of seconds, the Ferrari drivers can return to the Marina Bay monitor floor. They proceed with the identical warm-up used beforehand, extra aggressive than that noticed in apply. A single try the place the “two Carlos” cross the lower. Nevertheless, whereas Charles can abort, the Spaniard is compelled to complete the lap the place he makes a mistake at flip 13 that prices him at the very least three-tenths. Good indicators to date, however the precise tempo of the SF-24 in qualifying continues to be unclear.
A quick pause and again to pushing. Apparently, with the present monitor situations, overheating appears to be underneath management. To do that, they have to handle a sure oversteering tendency that the pink automobile has proven to date in qualifying. Q2 will undoubtedly present extra concrete suggestions on this regard. In the course of the outlap, they proceed extra slowly than earlier than. It appears that evidently the upper asphalt temperature could assist to hit the proper tire utilization window. Push mode within the final nook and off for the primary try.
For this primary run, the group selected to mount used Delicate compound tires on each automobiles. Charles Leclerc, with the scrubbed tires, managed to put himself between the 2 McLarens. A extremely good tempo for the Monegasque who, regardless of making a couple of errors, nonetheless managed to extract good efficiency from the SF-24. The Madrilenian struggled extra, exhibiting much less confidence along with his automobile in comparison with his teammate. They returned to the storage the place an adjustment was made to the entrance wing of automobile quantity 55: “level 1 up.” No modifications have been made for Charles. Contained in the storage, the Ferrari group rigorously studied the telemetry. A really helpful transfer to grasp the factors on the monitor the place they may improve efficiency for the subsequent run. The mechanics fitted a brand new set of red-marked Pirelli tires on each automobiles, which left the pit lane a couple of minutes later. The standard routine for warming up the tires didn’t appear to trigger too many issues for the historic Italian group at this stage of qualifying. Carlos Sainz wanted to enhance as a result of it was famous that he hadn’t been capable of absolutely exploit the potential of his automobile to date.
Each drivers began their laps after participating push mode, in a efficiency state of affairs that shouldn’t face explicit obstacles from visitors. Charles put collectively an excellent lap, with only one mistake in T3, dropping a tenth in that occasion. He positioned himself behind Verstappen, taking third place only a tenth behind chief Norris. Sainz fared worse, dropping nearly half a second. It appears that evidently qualifying might be very tight till the top, with a number of groups preventing for the highest spots till the final second.
The time to get severe has arrived. It stays to be seen who nonetheless has one thing in reserve, able to unleash most efficiency. The chances favor Lando Norris, who has been the quickest since FP3. The Brit is benefiting from his MCL38, an entire and really aggressive automobile on this monitor. After yet one more transient cease within the storage, the engines of the pink automobiles roar again to life. It’s time to present every part they’ve. The 2 Ferraris depart the pit field. They’re nonetheless on Delicate tires, this time with a brand new set.
Focus is at its peak, evidently. The monitor floor temperature has risen by two levels in comparison with the start of qualifying. The Ferrari group is engaged within the outlap, which is sort of fast this time. Charles Leclerc encounters visitors and prefers to decelerate a bit earlier than accelerating once more in S3. Simply because the Monegasque had cleared flip 3, he needed to decelerate as a result of his teammate misplaced management of the rear finish at flip 18. The Spaniard crashed into the limitations, damaging the rear of his SF-24. Fairly a large number.
On the radio, he’s knowledgeable that his tires have been nonetheless too chilly. It’s an actual disgrace as a result of the Spaniard must begin from tenth place. It stays to be seen the extent of the injury and whether or not will probably be needed to alter the transmission of SF-24 quantity 55. It takes a while to take away automobile quantity 55 from the monitor and permit the stewards to wash up the particles and repair the limitations. We’re speaking about about quarter-hour of pink flag. As soon as every part is cleared, the one Ferrari returns to the monitor, now on new Delicate tires.
With solely 3 minutes remaining, there may be simply sufficient time to set a time. All the pieces is on the road for this “one shot,” because the English say. The Monegasque’s outlap follows the identical sample because the earlier ones. Leclerc makes area to attempt to cross the road with the tires as heat as attainable. A sure nervousness is noticeable on the radio, as the strain is basically excessive. Charles units off for his lap however overcooks it, carrying an excessive amount of velocity into flip 1. This implies his time is canceled, and he has to accept ninth place. A troublesome blow for the Ferrari group, which utterly squandered qualifying.
On the return lap, the Ferrari driver could be very offended. He opens up on the radio and vents as greatest he can. Charles Leclerc talks about an adjustment advised by the pit wall earlier than his final try that sophisticated issues. It apparently isn’t a tire-related issue. For that reason, he seeks clarification, as he believes the entrance finish of his SF-24 didn’t work because it ought to have. Bryan Bozzi tries to calm him down and, disheartened, admits he doesn’t have a solution at that second. That is the account of a session that clearly couldn’t have gone worse.
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