When it comes to efficiency, Ferrari has skilled various fortunes this season. Through the important interval from Barcelona to the preliminary progress at Zandvoort, the crew averaged a niche of three-tenths from the highest. McLaren had already established itself because the quickest automotive, with a mean lap time of 1:24.986 in comparison with Ferrari’s 1:25.140.
Ranging from Monza, Ferrari’s changes started to repay, bringing its efficiency stage on par with McLaren, which had, regardless of errors, solidified its power and overtaken Pink Bull. The exception was the drop in Singapore, the place the weekend began poorly for Ferrari. However, the common hole was diminished by over 70%, with Ferrari attaining a mean lap time of 1:33.120 in comparison with McLaren’s 1:32.988. In the meantime, rising difficulties for Pink Bull and Mercedes have been evident of their bigger deficits, though each groups managed to win races in opposition to expectations.
In Las Vegas, Ferrari launched an experimental ground, not geared toward enhancing the SF-24’s efficiency however solely for correlation functions following the widening of the entrance part within the wind tunnel. The sting of the ground was utterly redesigned to correlate the airflow from the entrance tires with the downstream movement of the automotive. Whereas it didn’t instantly enhance the automotive’s pace—since the usual ground could be very efficient in gradual corners—it supplied some advantages in high-speed corners by way of drivability, which each drivers appreciated. This opened up the opportunity of utilizing it in Qatar.
Carlos Sainz reported elevated confidence within the automotive, and the info confirmed that whereas the general downforce remained the identical, the way in which the ground generated it and reached its peak had modified. This translated into better confidence, significantly in high-speed corners above 200 km/h, which have been minimal in Las Vegas and never important for efficiency however dominant at Lusail. Consequently, Ferrari selected to equip Charles Leclerc’s SF-24 with the ground, testing and confirming the findings from the U.S., utilizing it all through the weekend with calculated dangers.
Ferrari has accomplished its replace program, with no chance of getting one other experimental ground out there
In Abu Dhabi, the experimental ground will once more be out there however with out a second spare. This can be a vital threat on the Emirati circuit, which has extra important areas by way of run-offs. Moreover, solely Flip 3 could be very quick, contrasting with a variety of sharp, slower corners. Engineers consider the usual SF-24 ought to nonetheless be aggressive on straights and in medium-slow, short-radius corners (aside from T5 and T10, that are wider).
Contemplating these components, Ferrari’s determination stays open to dialogue. It wouldn’t be shocking if the Maranello crew’s engineers determined to not use the particular ground, eliminating dangers in parc fermé. Given the tight battle with McLaren heading into the season finale, as Frederic Vasseur reiterates, a flawless execution of the weekend is as soon as once more required. Taking dangers is crucial, however not like Qatar, this second additionally calls for nice warning to keep away from regrets, as defined by F1 specialists Giuliano Duchessa and Rosario Giuliana for autoracer.