At Ferrari, there was no hiding: the Qatar GP wouldn’t be favorable for the SF-24. In actual fact, the Scuderia was compelled to play defensively to restrict the harm within the constructors’ standings towards McLaren, which discovered the Losail circuit extra suited to the traits of its automotive. Thus, Ferrari approached the Dash periods first and qualifying later totally respecting these expectations, left with a bitter style after a promising first observe session.
Nonetheless, over time, the efficiency of the SF-24 improved, though it was not akin to the leaders, with McLaren proving superior within the Dash periods (higher than a nervous and understeering Ferrari). This was a problem that the staff’s engineers couldn’t resolve earlier than Parc Fermé forward of the race qualification, the place the SF-24 continued to underperform, ending behind McLaren, Mercedes, and Crimson Bull. Throughout the race, up till the chaotic finale, the state of affairs appeared unchanged—lower than splendid for the battle for the constructors’ title—with McLaren seemingly in higher form and increasing their lead within the standings. Nonetheless, the ultimate laps, aided by Charles Leclerc’s restart and Norris’s harsh penalty for not slowing beneath yellow flags, allowed Ferrari to overturn the state of affairs, ending second and sixth with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, narrowing the hole to their papaya-colored rivals and suspending the constructors’ title combat to the ultimate race in Abu Dhabi.
A tense and chaotic race, analyzed by Ferrari’s staff principal Fréd Vasseur on Sky Sport F1. Fred Vasseur first expressed his satisfaction at deferring the constructors’ title resolution to Abu Dhabi, then delved into the chaotic race finale and subsequent penalties imposed on Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
“It’s good that the championship might be determined in Abu Dhabi. Talking of the penalties, we are able to’t argue about them, however concerning the mirror challenge, we are able to definitely say that the Security Automotive may have been deployed earlier. It might have been much less harmful. This occurred throughout Leclerc’s overtaking of Bottas. However it was unlucky for everybody. It’s straightforward to remark now; it will have been higher to deploy a VSC and clear the monitor, however I imagine they didn’t anticipate the whole lot that occurred. It was off the racing line, however on the road used for overtaking.”
The Ferrari boss was then requested concerning the technique adopted, which was very conservative within the first laps when Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc had been instructed to not push to keep away from tire put on however finally amassed a big hole from the leaders.
“We weren’t anxious about degradation; it was merely our plan: handle for 7-8 laps, and the drivers dealt with it nicely. Solely after that did we push. We introduced ahead the cease, however I believe the technique was good.”
Moreover, the French supervisor commented on the choice to not match Mushy tires on Charles Leclerc’s automotive within the last laps to problem McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. It was a selection deemed too dangerous by the staff in pink…
“No, we pitted two laps earlier and had been assured within the Arduous tires to push to the tip. We thought of becoming the Softs, however we’d have needed to handle them in another way. Plus, a pit cease can all the time current dangers.” – the French supervisor identified.
Lastly, an inevitable query concerning the constructors’ title battle, which is able to finally be determined in Abu Dhabi—a monitor extra suited to Ferrari, the place your entire staff will give it their all till the final nook of the final lap of the 2024 Components 1 season.
“Let’s get by way of this race first. We’re nonetheless within the combat; something is feasible. We will give attention to McLaren. We’re forward of Crimson Bull, and Abu Dhabi will swimsuit us higher. With Max within the combine and Mercedes within the pack, the whole lot might be unsure. We’ll push like loopy till the final lap, and we’ll see.”
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