Within the twenty second qualifying session of the 2024 System 1 championship, Scuderia Ferrari continued the work with the smooth compound that started through the remaining free follow session on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada with out making vital setup adjustments. 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 automobiles ran the usual flooring specification, with out the up to date edge particulars. From a dealing with perspective, there was a basic extra of rotation, with stability shifting noticeably towards the rear at decrease speeds.
This attribute triggered slight understeer on nook entry in sure areas, similar to Flip 7. Ferrari targeted extensively on tire preparation, which required appreciable work even throughout the qualifying session itself. The Maranello group regularly communicated with the drivers through radio, suggesting strategies like weaving on straights to create a thermal cycle that might generate ample temperature within the entrance tires at first of a lap. Sustaining this temperature was additionally essential, because the lengthy straights triggered it to drop beneath the goal vary.
This difficulty, notably on the tire tread, was intently monitored, with the group aiming to make the most of a level of understeer to warmth the tire floor. In the end, this influenced the technique for decent 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, not like Purple Bull, as we are going to see later. In the meantime, Mercedes obtained their tire warm-up technique spot on, thanks additionally to the traits of the W15 automobile in low temperature situations. By attaining higher stability, they managed to function their automobile throughout the optimum efficiency window.
This consequence was one thing the Maranello group had struggled with in latest races. With monitor temperatures at 13.5°C and ambient temperatures round 12°C, unusually chilly situations for System 1, the W15 single-seater proved notably efficient. This automobile 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 stability, they have been much less affected by understeer in low- and medium-speed sections.
Optimum tire administration allowed the Brackley group 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 difficulty with the SF-24 automobile, particularly inadequate entrance tire temperature at first of the lap. George Russell gained considerably in Turns 2, 3, and 4, primarily attributable to better-prepared tires that offered larger grip ranges. McLaren, alternatively, 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 achieve on Mercedes. At low speeds, they might have extracted extra from the automobile and the Delicate tire. On nook entry, each MCL38 automobiles lacked vital grip, dropping precious time. Lastly, Purple Bull confronted vital difficulties right here in Las Vegas.
Max Verstappen secured a fifth-place end, salvaging the consequence, whereas Sergio Perez was as soon as once more eradicated in Q1. The work finished by the Austrian group on the rear wing made headlines: the Purple Bull engineers used a Dremel to chop the trailing fringe of the extra flap, additional lowering 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 proportion 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. Most likely, when it comes to mechanical setup, Purple Bull needed to compromise on suspension stiffness to attempt to put vitality into the tires, particularly the entrance ones. These temperature points on the entrance axle have emerged prior to now, even when the Milton Keynes group was dominant.
Lastly, we check out the telemetry knowledge and if we observe the perfect instances of the principle groups, we see that the majority drivers set their greatest lap in Q3 apart from Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time System 1 world champion and future Ferrari driver, in truth, did not put collectively a clear lap attributable to his personal mistake. With out this error, his W15, quantity 44, may have reached third place, behind Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver was only one and a half-tenths behind, with all of it collected within the opening sector.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
