With a deadly one-two, McLaren places a critical maintain on the Constructors’ Championship. The Abu Dhabi qualifying classes affirm the state of grace of the Woking staff, appreciated all through the weekend, softening the remorse for surprising points at Ferrari. The Scuderia seems reinvigorated by the last-minute changes to the setup, although it’s clear that bringing the championship again to Maranello would require a feat. Larger hope lies with Haas, who, with the extraordinary Nico Hulkenberg, goals to reclaim sixth place within the championship.
In Abu Dhabi, each title contenders choose for the same setup technique, specializing in a excessive stage of aerodynamic downforce to warmth the tires shortly and restrict their slip, paying the worth of being the slowest within the pace traps on the finish of the straight. Nevertheless, the strategy pays off for each groups, particularly for Woking. In contrast to Ferrari, McLaren manages to make the distinction within the technical third sector, gaining not less than two-tenths on the complete competitors.
The ultimate sector of Abu Dhabi is characterised by a sequence of brief, medium-low pace corners, paying homage to these road circuits that favor nook exit traction. It’s no coincidence that on this part McLaren shows a dominance much like what was seen in Singapore and Zandvoort. In relation to controlling rear tire overheating, the MCL38 proves to be one of the best automobile, a power that secures a stronghold on the Abu Dhabi victory, together with the Constructors’ title. “When there are medium-speed corners, it appears like we’re one of the best automobile,” confirms Andrea Stella. The effectiveness within the third sector lays one of the best groundwork for tire administration through the race, with McLaren aiming to keep up the lead within the first half earlier than pulling away after the pit cease, when the MCL38 turns into extra aggressive with an empty gasoline tank.
“I consider in miracles,” says Charles Leclerc in entrance of the journalists within the paddock. In reality, at this level, a supernatural intervention could be wanted to permit Ferrari to regain the Constructors’ Championship. Nevertheless, there’s excellent news for the Scuderia, having regained competitiveness after a troublesome trio of free apply classes. “We modified the automobile fairly a bit from FP3, and I feel we went in the correct route,” says the Monegasque driver. In qualifying, Ferrari succeeds the place it had struggled as much as that time, attacking the time with tires prepared from the beginning and matching McLaren’s instances within the first sector.
Total, the SF-24 seems way more balanced than initially of the weekend, with Carlos Sainz coming simply 9 thousandths behind Oscar Piastri in second. It’s identified that Ferrari is extra aggressive within the race than in qualifying, however the long-term tempo stays an unknown after the poor outcomes on Friday with the earlier setup configuration. Carlos Sainz can have the daunting process of defeating the 2 McLarens, whereas a comeback from the again for Leclerc appears much more unlikely, particularly now presumably with a very new energy unit. If vital, Maranello will work in a single day to good probably the most aggressive engine mapping potential, in an try and make that miracle occur by which the Scuderia continues to consider.
Max Verstappen will begin from fourth place, reflecting on the restrictions of the RB20 uncovered by the Abu Dhabi observe: “We all know we’re good in medium and high-speed corners, however right here there are some which can be extra medium-low pace. This has at all times been a little bit of our weak point.” But, the world champion exhibits first-row potential however misses out on the ultimate decisive lap.
Purple Bull deserves credit score for fixing the understeering points from Friday. Nevertheless, in qualifying, Verstappen complains a few stability that evolves by way of the assorted phases of nook entry, mid-corner, and exit. The Dutch driver doesn’t miss the chance to set the event agenda for 2025: “We all know that if we remedy our issues, we’d discover a variety of time per lap. It must be completed as a result of the stability oscillations make it very troublesome to discover a good compromise with the instruments we’ve got within the automobile. We have to work on this for subsequent yr.” The final qualifying of the season is the proper image of Purple Bull on the finish of the yr: a automobile as soon as once more aggressive and preventing for high positions, however nonetheless removed from perfection and beatable.
After the thrill of Las Vegas and Qatar, the Silver Arrows return to the again of the grid. Lewis Hamilton, eradicated in Q1, suffers from the affect of a cone hit on the finish of the ultimate sector, in addition to a preparation lap closely hindered by visitors. George Russell, however, advances to Q3 however solely manages seventh place. In contrast to earlier occasions, the Yas Marina circuit and temperatures don’t spotlight Mercedes’ strengths, with the staff’s weekend preparations influenced by experiments on the setup to enhance their understanding of floor impact for 2025.
“We tried some fairly drastic issues with the automobile,” confirms Russell. “In the previous few weekends, there have been a variety of Dash races, so we nearly obtained into the mentality that this was a take a look at weekend for us. Quite a bit was completed on the automobile, and we tried quite a few issues, and I feel perhaps we obtained misplaced.” The staff is now making ready for a ultimate race that’s unlikely to carry a lot pleasure, aiming to shut out 2024 and deal with the brand new season as quickly as potential.
Behind the grid, the opposite world battle unfolds, this one for sixth place. The penalty drops Haas’ Hulkenberg to seventh, however the potential proven all through the weekend suggests an attacking race. “The traits of this observe go well with our automobile. A great a part of our growth has centered on medium-speed corners, and there are numerous of these right here,” displays the German. The purpose shall be to recuperate 6 factors on Alpine, which struggled all through the weekend earlier than regaining competitiveness on the final minute, with Gasly ranging from the third row. Simply behind, Valtteri Bottas will begin, managing the feat of qualifying the Sauber into Q3, confirming its progress. The long run Audi staff arrives on the final race with new updates to the ground, which can even be evaluated through the Tuesday assessments forward of 2025. Nevertheless, Binotto has been clear: the purpose shall be to win by 2030.
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