Ferrari has achieved it once more. One other win meaning lots in Method 1, contemplating that the McLaren staff was a really powerful opponent within the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix weekend, not like in the US Grand Prix. Who is aware of what may have occurred if Lando Norris had certified larger or, within the early phases of the race on the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico Metropolis, had not been slowed down by Max Verstappen and will have absolutely exploited the potential of MCL38 automotive. Happily for Ferrari, the British driver couldn’t carry out at his greatest, and Carlos Sainz, executing a flawless weekend, absolutely deserves this second win of the 2024 Method 1 season.
Charles Leclerc additionally gave his greatest. The Monegasque may have undoubtedly achieved extra, however the weekend didn’t begin nicely, and all through the three days on observe, he by no means absolutely discovered the precise feeling together with his SF24 automotive. He completed third, which is nice sufficient, as Ferrari overtakes Purple Bull within the Constructors’ Championship and closes in on McLaren, which is not to this point forward. We’re speaking a couple of 29-point hole, which, with 4 races remaining and two Dash Races, is not only a dream. The Prancing Horse optimized its efficiency within the Mexican Grand Prix, which is strictly what it wished to attain. Chapeau.
At the beginning, the whole entrance group selected the medium tire. The quickest technique, in keeping with simulations, was to start out on this compound after which swap to the Arduous. The Comfortable was dominated out, because it was anticipated to create too many temperature administration points and make a one-stop technique more durable. The race opened with a Flip 1 incident that introduced out a Security Automotive, to which nobody reacted. As talked about earlier, the primary technique was a single cease, in order that they aimed to increase the primary stint. Due to this fact, pitting instantly would have supplied no benefit.
Carlos Sainz misplaced his place to Max Verstappen initially, however Ferrari’s superior straight-line pace made the distinction, and the Spaniard shortly regained the lead on the first nook braking zone. On Saturday, we noticed Ferrari dominate all of the straight sections of the observe. After passing the Dutchman and Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc adopted his Maranello teammate and centered on constructing a protected hole with him. The staff radio messages confirmed that each drivers had been pushing to the utmost on this section, with Charles Leclerc instructed to handle his tires higher in high-speed corners.
All through the Mexican weekend, Ferrari opted to make use of a decrease downforce wing. They began with the Monaco specification, then switched to the medium-high downforce Barcelona specification. The Maranello technicians and engineers sacrificed some downforce, contemplating that common speeds in sector 2 would drop in the course of the race, requiring much less load. Nevertheless, they wanted to handle tire put on within the second sector to keep away from extreme sliding. Round lap 22, Charles Leclerc was instructed to chill his tire floor, however the Monegasque driver replied that he couldn’t do it at that second, whereas Carlos Sainz was managing higher.
In the meantime, Lando Norris was knowledgeable that the race was following Plan A—one cease, extending the primary stint as a lot as doable. He was reassured that his tire put on was in step with Ferrari’s, and he was additionally instructed that tire graining was lower than anticipated. McLaren’s focus was on competing with Ferrari, even with Max Verstappen in between them. For the reason that Purple Bull driver had a 10-second penalty, a right away overtake was not crucial.
Max Verstappen’s medium tires, nevertheless, had been extra worn. The world champion was struggling considerably, and his staff determined to pit him, particularly as he acquired a second 10-second penalty. This gave Lando Norris clear air to push, with Charles Leclerc sustaining a 6.5-second lead. The 2 Ferrari drivers had been repeatedly instructed to proceed “lifting and coasting” to increase tire life. Nevertheless, they paid little consideration to the pit wall, suspecting their teammate wasn’t following the identical orders.
At this level, Lando Norris reported that his front-left tire was achieved, so he was referred to as to the pits on lap 30, as could possibly be seen by analyzing the telemetry knowledge after the race. Charles Leclerc adopted on lap 32 to modify to Hards. The Monegasque driver was introduced in first, however there was no danger of an undercut on his Maranello teammate, as there was a nine-second hole between them. Shortly after, it was Carlos Sainz’s flip, who initially wished to increase his stint by two laps. However, he switched to the white-banded Pirellis and rejoined with out shedding the hole he had on Charles Leclerc.
Within the first laps of the second stint on Hards, Max Verstappen complained of braking grip points, which his teammate additionally identified as their important limitation. The state of affairs didn’t enhance because the stint continued. Carlos Sainz may ease into the tires and attain occasions underneath 21.0 inside about 5 laps. However, Charles Leclerc didn’t have this opportunity, as Lando Norris pushed laborious instantly. By stopping early, the British driver gained roughly three seconds on the Ferrari driver, with each drivers reaching sub-21.0 assault occasions.
Charles Leclerc was instructed to drop the raise and coast and begin pushing more durable. Consequently, Carlos Sainz was additionally allowed to extend his tempo, elevating his minimal pace in quick corners. The Spaniard was knowledgeable {that a} quicker tempo in Sector 2 would additionally enhance tire efficiency. Degradation reduces the versatile portion of the tire, requiring extra time to heat it up. This is a matter primarily affecting the entrance axle and applies throughout the grid.
Total, Ferrari had a slower tempo on the Arduous compound than McLaren, notably with Charles Leclerc, who wanted a slower introduction. Lando Norris utilized vital strain on him within the closing phases of the Mexican Grand Prix, forcing a mistake. At that time, Charles Leclerc’s solely possibility was to pit for the quickest lap, profiting from the free cease. Carlos Sainz, in the meantime, simply needed to handle his lead over Lando to the end line. McLaren sadly gained considerably on the more durable tires, and with out Max Verstappen’s hold-up within the first stint, they’d the tempo to win and beat Ferrari.
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