Within the twenty second qualifying session of the 2024 Components 1 championship, Scuderia Ferrari continued the work with the mushy compound that started through the closing free observe session on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada with out making vital setup modifications. The low-drag rear wing, which is the specification beforehand seen within the Italian Grand Prix on the Monza circuit was confirmed, whereas each SF-24 vehicles ran the usual ground specification, with out the up to date edge particulars. From a dealing with perspective, there was a basic extra of rotation, with steadiness shifting noticeably towards the rear at decrease speeds.
This attribute induced slight understeer on nook entry in sure areas, reminiscent of Flip 7. Ferrari targeted extensively on tire preparation, which required appreciable work even throughout the qualifying session itself. The Maranello workforce ceaselessly communicated with the drivers through radio, suggesting strategies like weaving on straights to create a thermal cycle that would generate ample temperature within the entrance tires at first of a lap. Sustaining this temperature was additionally essential, because the lengthy straights induced it to drop under the goal vary.
This subject, significantly on the tire tread, was intently monitored, with the workforce aiming to make the most of a level of understeer to warmth the tire floor. In the end, this influenced the technique for warm laps. The principle query was whether or not to incorporate a further preparation lap past the out-lap. In Q3, Ferrari opted to not carry out a preparation lap, in contrast to Pink Bull, as we’ll see later. In the meantime, Mercedes obtained their tire warm-up technique spot on, thanks additionally to the traits of the W15 automotive in low temperature circumstances. By attaining higher steadiness, they managed to function their automotive inside the optimum efficiency window.
This final result was one thing the Maranello workforce had struggled with in current races. With observe temperatures at 13.5°C and ambient temperatures round 12°C, unusually chilly circumstances for Components 1, the W15 single-seater proved significantly efficient. This automotive naturally overheats its rear tires and generates vital friction on the tire floor. Like Ferrari, Mercedes employed weaving through the warm-up lap however averted a prep lap. Nonetheless, with a extra superior steadiness, they have been much less affected by understeer in low- and medium-speed sections.
Optimum tire administration allowed the Brackley workforce to excel within the first sector, a serious weak spot for Ferrari, which then needed to recuperate misplaced time within the the rest of the Las Vegas lap. This factors to a recurring subject with the SF-24 automotive, particularly inadequate entrance tire temperature at first of the lap. George Russell gained considerably in Turns 2, 3, and 4, primarily on account of better-prepared tires that supplied larger grip ranges. McLaren, then again, struggled not solely within the preliminary a part of the circuit but in addition continued dropping time between Turns 5 and 9.
Solely in Flip 5 did it lose nearly two-tenths, dropping an equal quantity within the low-speed part between Turns 7 and 9. After this part, the hole remained nearly fixed. In comparison with Ferrari, the principle limitation stays the straights, the place they’re unable to realize on Mercedes. At low speeds, they may have extracted extra from the automotive and the Delicate tire. On nook entry, each MCL38 vehicles lacked vital grip, dropping helpful time. Lastly, Pink Bull confronted vital difficulties right here in Las Vegas.
Max Verstappen secured a fifth-place end, salvaging the outcome, whereas Sergio Perez was as soon as once more eradicated in Q1. The work completed by the Austrian workforce on the rear wing made headlines: the Pink Bull engineers used a Dremel to chop the trailing fringe of the extra flap, additional decreasing the wing’s chord, realizing that the one ready for Las Vegas was not sufficiently low-drag. This modification improved the highest velocity however didn’t yield vital advantages over the lap, particularly when it comes to traction. From this, we will draw a conclusion.
In share phrases, 50% of the difficulties may be attributed to setup, which didn’t totally resolve the problems on the straights or enhance traction. The opposite 50% is because of tire warm-up. In all probability, when it comes to mechanical setup, Pink Bull needed to compromise on suspension stiffness to attempt to put power into the tires, particularly the entrance ones. These temperature points on the entrance axle have emerged up to now, even when the Milton Keynes workforce was dominant.
Lastly, we check out the telemetry knowledge and if we observe the best occasions of the principle groups, we see that the majority drivers set their greatest lap in Q3 apart from Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time Components 1 world champion and future Ferrari driver, in truth, didn’t put collectively a clear lap on account of his personal mistake. With out this error, his W15, quantity 44, might have reached third place, behind Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver was only one and a half-tenths behind, with all of it amassed within the opening sector.
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