Ferrari has due to this fact placing within the work in Barcelona with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. On Tuesday, on the primary day of this three-day session on the lovely Montmelò circuit, the Scuderia’s drivers took turns behind the wheel of the SF-23. The Prancing Horse booked the Spanish observe to make the most of TPC classes, exams regulated by the Worldwide Federation, the place a number of guidelines have to be adopted. These concern the automotive for use, the software program, the tires equipped particularly by Pirelli, and the restricted mileage.
On this context, we can’t merely discuss mere coaching—it might be far too reductive. No doubt, the restrictions imposed by the FIA make the job of an F1 group significantly extra sophisticated. That’s true. Nonetheless, there are numerous elements that may be examined and, as such, show very helpful for the trigger. On Tuesday morning, Charles Leclerc targeted a part of his session on learning the tires. We coated this subject intimately in a devoted article as a result of, though the tires are totally different, some insights can nonetheless be drawn.
Furthermore, there was a comparability relating to knowledge assortment with the simulator, an important software in fashionable F1 for assessing the accuracy of its correlation with real-world circumstances. This was a part of the work carried out by the Monegasque, who additionally regained a number of the confidence misplaced over the previous months in on-track motion. A really helpful coaching session in a number of respects, as he prepares for the true debut on the Bahrain pre-season exams, the place the brand new automotive might be unveiled—hopefully showcasing its glorious elementary traits within the Center East.
The scenario was barely totally different for the seven-time F1 world champion. The driving force from Stevenage is a veteran of the game’s high class, with 20 years of expertise in single-seaters. Nonetheless, he can nonetheless be thought of a “rookie” on the subject of his data of Ferrari—each by way of its automobiles and the distinctive strategy of the historic Italian group. Subsequently, he must undergo a studying curve that may present him with the inspiration to compete with the Scuderia. Lewis is totally dedicated to this course of.
On Tuesday afternoon, throughout Ferrari’s second session, it was his flip to take to the observe. The British driver accomplished a number of runs, all the time on the wheel of the SF-23. In keeping with info gathered by the Italian media, Hamilton’s baseline setup differed barely from Leclerc’s. The general downforce degree was the identical however distributed in another way. Hamilton’s driving fashion just isn’t a “copy and paste” of Leclerc’s. There are similarities, certain, however some features are distinctly totally different between the 2.
To start with, the British driver’s dealing with could be very clean, resembling that of former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz. The ex-Mercedes driver additionally prefers a really secure rear finish, whereas Charles, on a number of events, has proven he can handle a extra nervous rear if the advantages outweigh the downsides. Throughout his laps, along with simulating a typical race weekend work program, Lewis paid explicit consideration to braking phases. He particularly targeted on trail-braking, a crucial approach utilized by all F1 drivers.
Within the case of the British driver, it was vital to deepen his preliminary strategy to Brembo brakes. This includes a exact braking approach: making use of heavy strain on the pedal earlier than step by step releasing it because the automotive enters the nook. On the identical time, Hamilton studied the “trailing throttle” to additional stabilize the automotive with a slight quantity of throttle open. Charles is a real grasp of this system, continuously utilizing it in lots of qualifying classes final season. Weight distribution in corners is essential and was a part of Lewis’s coaching.
The seven-time Formulation 1 world champion additionally labored on the automotive’s setup and observe begins. The beginning system is totally different from Mercedes’, with a definite use of the paddles positioned on the rear of the steering wheel. Moreover, he skilled on the varied energy unit modes, together with engine mapping for the inner combustion engine and the hybrid system of Ferrari’s energy unit, designated 066/12. On the finish of his second day driving a Ferrari, Hamilton was as soon as once more happy.
The suggestions offered to the group was extremely constructive as he seems to be ahead to testing the SF-24 subsequent week, adopted by runs with the newest piece of aero-mechanical engineering from the Maranello squad. The complete trackside group was not current, however distant help from Maranello was accessible.
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