Scuderia Ferrari didn’t disappear from the ultimate free observe session for the Singapore Grand Prix. The changes made to the F1 automotive resulted in a brilliant balanced chassis. What didn’t work was the warm-up of the tires. An incorrect warm-up cycle that, in fact, considerably decreased the grip of the SF-24 with working temperatures removed from the proper values. It’s onerous to find out if the tweaks to the setup of the automotive someway contributed to the state of affairs noticed within the final observe session. Solely these instantly concerned know. A method or one other, nonetheless, there may be time to get well and current themselves in the very best manner for qualifying.
This isn’t the primary time that the Prancing Horse has suffered from such issues. Everybody will certainly keep in mind the weekend in Canada. Or, with out going too far again, let’s consider the Belgian Grand Prix the place, till Q2, automotive quantity 16 struggled to make the reduce. Then, within the closing a part of the session, Charles Leclerc nailed the warm-up and, like magic, the efficiency elevated sufficient to even safe pole place. It stays to be seen how this case shall be managed by the Italian staff. It’s definitely not a easy context, however it doesn’t routinely condemn the Maranello staff.
Singapore is an atypical observe. A avenue circuit the place it isn’t simple to completely nail all the main points. Furthermore, the significance of the beginning grid is essential, as those that begin on the entrance have wonderful probabilities of profitable contemplating the problem of overtaking. Ferrari is aware of this, and for that reason, they have to do every part to compete on equal phrases with McLaren. Failing to take action can be a significant disappointment, as technically the SF-24 in Singapore configuration has proven the potential to win. All that’s left is to attend for occasions and see what occurs.
Now let’s take an in depth have a look at how occasions unfolded for the 2 Ferrari SF-24 vehicles in qualifying on the 4.94-kilometre Marina Bay Road Circuit:
Every little thing is prepared for the beginning of the qualifying session. Contained in the Ferrari storage, there’s a sure chatter centered on the ultimate particulars. First, let’s check out the climate circumstances on the night time of Singapore: 29.5°C air temperature, 32.2°C observe floor temperature. Humidity at 80%, wind pace of 1.1 km/h blowing from the south. The flag is inexperienced, the Ferrari drivers are of their vehicles able to hit the observe. The sign comes, the engines begin, and off they go for this primary outing on the Malaysian asphalt. For this run, the 2 crimson vehicles are fitted with a set of red-marked tires.
We’re speaking concerning the tire that brought on vital difficulties for the Prancing Horse within the final a part of FP3. Subsequently, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if the staff has instantly understood tips on how to handle this issue. Within the outlap, the rear brakes are used quite a bit to heat up the again finish. The nice and cozy-up should be carried out correctly. Charles Leclerc speaks on the radio and addresses this side, stating that the tires have been too chilly in FP3. Bozzi suggests braking onerous in the course of the preparation lap. Then they change to push mode, let’s see what occurs.
Charles Leclerc completes a really clear lap earlier than shifting on to a double quiet down lap. Carlos Sainz, alternatively, makes a mistake at flip 1 and prefers to raise off to retry the nook afterward. The Spaniard additionally places collectively a superb lap. Each Ferrari drivers lose fairly a little bit of time in S1. Evidently flip 7 is a degree the place the crimson vehicles battle essentially the most. Through the second try, Charles makes a mistake within the second sector, which clearly slows him down. He’s additionally not excellent within the third sector. Nonetheless, he improves his time. It’s a disgrace concerning the errors as a result of the efficiency was sturdy.
Charles Leclerc decides and asks to handle the steadiness of the automotive at flip 13, adjusting the brake stability. A transfer agreed upon by the staff. As for the Spaniard, he registers a not wonderful lap that nonetheless mirrors the earlier one. For now, at the least, plainly the tire downside has not introduced itself. In that case, it will be a terrific aid for the Maranello staff. The 2 SF-24s return to the storage, ready to see if the time checks are adequate to make the reduce. Apparently not, as each crimson vehicles return to the observe.
Once more, new red-marked Pirelli tires. There’s some site visitors within the pit lane, however after a number of seconds, the Ferrari drivers can return to the Marina Bay observe floor. They proceed with the identical warm-up used beforehand, extra aggressive than that noticed in observe. A single try the place the “two Carlos” cross the reduce. Nevertheless, whereas Charles can abort, the Spaniard is pressured to complete the lap the place he makes a mistake at flip 13 that prices him at the least three-tenths. Good indicators to this point, however the precise tempo of the SF-24 in qualifying continues to be unclear.
A short pause and again to pushing. Apparently, with the present observe circumstances, overheating appears to be beneath management. To do that, they have to handle a sure oversteering tendency that the crimson automotive has proven to this point in qualifying. Q2 will undoubtedly present extra concrete suggestions on this regard. Through the outlap, they proceed extra slowly than earlier than. Evidently the upper asphalt temperature might assist to hit the proper tire utilization window. Push mode within the final nook and off for the primary try.
For this primary run, the staff selected to mount used Delicate compound tires on each vehicles. Charles Leclerc, with the scrubbed tires, managed to position himself between the 2 McLarens. A very good tempo for the Monegasque who, regardless of making a number of errors, nonetheless managed to extract good efficiency from the SF-24. The Madrilenian struggled extra, displaying much less confidence along with his automotive in comparison with his teammate. They returned to the storage the place an adjustment was made to the entrance wing of automotive quantity 55: “level 1 up.” No adjustments have been made for Charles. Contained in the storage, the Ferrari staff rigorously studied the telemetry. A really helpful transfer to know the factors on the observe the place they might improve efficiency for the subsequent run. The mechanics fitted a brand new set of red-marked Pirelli tires on each vehicles, which left the pit lane a couple of minutes later. The same old routine for warming up the tires didn’t appear to trigger too many issues for the historic Italian staff at this stage of qualifying. Carlos Sainz wanted to enhance as a result of it was famous that he hadn’t been capable of absolutely exploit the potential of his automotive to this point.
Each drivers began their laps after participating push mode, in a efficiency state of affairs that shouldn’t face explicit obstacles from site visitors. Charles put collectively an excellent lap, with only one mistake in T3, shedding a tenth in that occasion. He positioned himself behind Verstappen, taking third place only a tenth behind chief Norris. Sainz fared worse, shedding nearly half a second. Evidently qualifying shall be very tight till the top, with a number of groups preventing for the highest spots till the final second.
The time to get severe has arrived. It stays to be seen who nonetheless has one thing in reserve, able to unleash most efficiency. The percentages favor Lando Norris, who has been the quickest since FP3. The Brit is profiting from his MCL38, a whole and really aggressive automotive on this observe. After one more temporary cease within the storage, the engines of the crimson vehicles roar again to life. It’s time to provide every part they’ve. The 2 Ferraris go away the pit field. They’re nonetheless on Delicate tires, this time with a brand new set.
Focus is at its peak, for sure. The observe floor temperature has risen by two levels in comparison with the start of qualifying. The Ferrari staff is engaged within the outlap, which is sort of fast this time. Charles Leclerc encounters site visitors and prefers to decelerate a bit earlier than accelerating once more in S3. Simply because the Monegasque had cleared flip 3, he needed to decelerate as a result of his teammate misplaced management of the rear finish at flip 18. The Spaniard crashed into the obstacles, damaging the rear of his SF-24. Fairly a large number.
On the radio, he’s knowledgeable that his tires have been nonetheless too chilly. It’s an actual disgrace as a result of the Spaniard should begin from tenth place. It stays to be seen the extent of the harm and whether or not it is going to be mandatory to vary the transmission of SF-24 quantity 55. It takes a while to take away automotive quantity 55 from the observe and permit the stewards to scrub up the particles and repair the obstacles. We’re speaking about about quarter-hour of crimson flag. As soon as every part is cleared, the one Ferrari returns to the observe, now on new Delicate tires.
With solely 3 minutes remaining, there may be simply sufficient time to set a time. Every little thing is on the road for this “one shot,” because the English say. The Monegasque’s outlap follows the identical sample because the earlier ones. Leclerc makes house to attempt to cross the road with the tires as heat as doable. A sure nervousness is noticeable on the radio, as the strain is absolutely excessive. Charles units off for his lap however overcooks it, carrying an excessive amount of pace into flip 1. This implies his time is canceled, and he has to accept ninth place. A troublesome blow for the Ferrari staff, which fully squandered qualifying.
On the return lap, the Ferrari driver could be very offended. He opens up on the radio and vents as greatest he can. Charles Leclerc talks about an adjustment recommended by the pit wall earlier than his final try that sophisticated issues. It apparently isn’t a tire-related issue. For that reason, he seeks clarification, as he believes the entrance finish of his SF-24 didn’t work because it ought to have. Bryan Bozzi tries to calm him down and, disheartened, admits he doesn’t have a solution at that second. That is the account of a session that clearly couldn’t have gone worse.
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