The eve of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix within the Ferrari camp started with the motto of believing and pushing till the tip to keep away from any regrets. The constructors’ title didn’t go to Maranello, however on this decisive weekend, the group left no stone unturned, despite the fact that the weekend grew to become sophisticated earlier than the follow classes, as a result of battery alternative on Charles Leclerc’s SF-24.
After the race, Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur defined that past efficiency considerations, the actual problem prompting the alternative was the chance of a race retirement, one thing the Italian aspect clearly couldn’t afford given the aim of preserving their championship hopes alive. Undoubtedly, the penalty was a bitter be aware to start out the weekend, which was additional sophisticated by Charles Leclerc’s lap time cancellation in Q2, successfully sending him to the again of the grid.
The evening between Saturday and Sunday was stuffed with deliberation, particularly relating to whether or not to exchange the Energy Unit. Ultimately, they determined to stay with the unit already mounted on the automobile. This determination made sense, because the degradation of the interior combustion engine over its life cycle has been diminished, notably since groups have centered extra on reliability than pure energy following the freeze.
What stunned most was the choice to start out on medium tires, not solely as a result of there was at all times the chance that contact may additional compromise the race but in addition as a result of the laborious tire probably supplied larger strategic flexibility in a race the place there have been nonetheless some doubts, regardless of the final intention to purpose for a one-stop technique. It’s no coincidence that groups saved a second set of laborious tires as a backup.
It was an all-in on the beginning, and it paid off, realistically exceeding Ferrari’s finest expectations. To know why this was a daring alternative and, above all, an attacking technique, we have to return twelve months to final 12 months’s GP. Even then, restricted tire degradation would have allowed for a one-stop technique, however some groups’ early pit stops created a domino impact, shifting the race in the direction of two stops.
This state of affairs re-emerged this 12 months. Pirelli’s calculations urged {that a} one-stop technique ought to have been a couple of seconds quicker than a two-stop, typically encouraging groups to purpose for one cease whereas managing degradation. Nonetheless, if final 12 months’s state of affairs repeated, the race may have shifted to 2 stops, which a number of groups thought of at one level in the course of the Grand Prix.
Thus, the laborious tire may have been a cautious however logical alternative. Whereas it could not have supplied distinctive grip firstly, it could have allowed for an extended stint, observing rivals’ methods, and probably capitalizing on a Security Automobile at an opportune second. This was Mercedes’ reasoning, whereas Ferrari instantly clarified their attacking technique. If the beginning had not gone effectively, recovering with the identical tires because the rivals would undoubtedly have required rethinking many features mid-race.
Conversely, Ferrari’s gamble on an aggressive race paid off higher than anticipated. Charles Leclerc’s sensible first lap was aided by a little bit of luck, with some favorable incidents, however his means to extract the utmost, discover house, consider in himself, and make a distinction stood out. Rising to eighth place straight away put the Monegasque able to probably battle top-tier rivals on equal strategic footing at some extent within the race when the successful tactic was nonetheless unclear.
In the end, the medium tire turned from a possible threat into one of many keys to the rostrum. Charles Leclerc continued to climb the standings, reaching fourth place, earlier than going through the problem of George Russell, who was barely off kind this weekend in comparison with different races after dedicating a part of follow to experimental testing for the 2025 Formulation 1 season.
Though Charles Leclerc had good tempo, overtaking in Abu Dhabi is difficult, particularly when getting into soiled air, which will increase tire sliding within the third sector. This led Ferrari to deliberate on their subsequent transfer: after Mercedes didn’t take the bait on a feint aimed toward pushing them right into a pit cease, Ferrari determined to tug the set off and name in Charles Leclerc.
At a time when different groups had already stopped, shifting the race in the direction of two pit stops, Ferrari’s determination was not with out doubts. The pit window was roughly the identical as final 12 months when the race shifted to 2 stops, making the chance of a repeat vital. If the laborious tire held, Charles Leclerc would want to finish 38 laps on the identical set. Moreover, stopping early risked encountering visitors from drivers like Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg, who had modified tires 5–6 laps earlier.
Stopping early was an aggressive but calculated alternative, as in addition they saved an eye fixed on Lewis Hamilton, lower than ten seconds behind and clearly on a one-stop technique. Just like the preliminary medium tire alternative, this daring determination paid off, not solely as a result of the undercut labored but in addition as a result of the race unfolded as Ferrari had hoped.
Trying on the first stint on laborious tires, many doubted whether or not the toughest compound may final till the tip, and there was hypothesis in regards to the subsequent pit window. When requested in code if he thought the tires may go the space, even Charles Leclerc expressed doubts.
Nonetheless, lap by lap, degradation proved manageable, shifting the race from a two-stop to a one-stop technique, making Ferrari’s alternative efficient, particularly towards Lewis Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc’s comeback boiled down to 2 key elements: his means to ship a shocking first lap and preserve robust tempo in key race moments, and Ferrari’s daring technique. The Maranello group took dangers in a Grand Prix the place they aimed to grab their possibilities till the tip, leaving no room for remorse.
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