Scuderia Ferrari bought essentially the most out of this weekend on the 4.381-kilometre Hungaroring circuit in Budapest, which topped McLaren, a workforce in a position to clearly defeat its opponents based mostly on race tempo. Lewis Hamilton did effectively, whereas Max Verstappen struggled. Within the early section of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Dutchman suffered from a scarcity of rotation, which was additionally evident within the qualifying session. The RB20 single-seater confirmed a steadiness too shifted in the direction of the rear. The Austrian workforce tried numerous ranges of entrance load to discover a steadiness that would present the driving force with a superb really feel. With a full tank of gasoline, this detrimental setup was amplified. Understeer on the apex of the nook changed into oversteer on exit, which didn’t assist protect the medium tires.
Within the very early section of the race, Lewis Hamilton managed to get shut with out with the ability to try an overtake. Mercedes managed the medium tires very effectively, attempting an undercut on Max Verstappen by selecting the exhausting tires three laps early. On this observe, the undercut is sort of highly effective because of the excessive degradation. The brand new Pirelli white-circled tire was due to this fact extra performant than the used exhausting tire within the preliminary laps. Given the format and observe floor temperatures, it was not tough to search out ample temperature to activate it. The 2 Ferrari SF-24 automobiles managed the medium tires appropriately.
They did so by extending the stint whereas sustaining a superb tempo, despite the fact that they carried out loads of tire administration, with the 2 Ferrari race engineers Bryan Bozzi and Riccardo Adami typically giving their drivers strategies on the place to restrict tire saturation. Such observe is extensively a part of System 1, as with a excessive quantity of gasoline on board, the tires have a tendency to extend their put on.
From the primary laps, Mercedes realized they’d requested an excessive amount of of the exhausting tires to make the undercut on Max Verstappen work. The preliminary push is usually detrimental to the tires, so this section have to be balanced very effectively with out risking ruining the whole stint. This example was not managed effectively by the German workforce, which did make the tactic work however put the compounds, particularly the rear ones, underneath pressure. The Dutchman was in a position to put together for the overtake because of tires with a number of fewer laps on them.
In defending, Lewis Hamilton additional sophisticated temperature administration by successfully locking the entrance axle in flip 1. The seven-time System 1 world champion significantly struggled with traction phases, because the rear tires have been typically overheating. Max Verstappen additionally confronted difficulties, with understeer reappearing even on the exhausting tires. The Dutchman used the brake steadiness knob rather a lot, shifting the steadiness to the entrance. This transfer was ineffective, because the RB20 continued to lack rotation. It was fascinating to see how the 2 Ferrari SF-24 automobiles discovered a superb tempo on the exhausting tires.
Charles Leclerc had a extra understeering automobile on one of these tire, so for the subsequent stint, he agreed with the mechanics to extend the incidence by 4 clicks. Ferrari managed the tires particularly in turns 4 and 11 the place loads of power is put into the tire carcass. Thanks additionally to the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, the Monegasque diminished the hole to the 2. Then, reaching the ultimate section of the tire after temperature stabilization, Ferrari thought of a cease with Charles Leclerc to undercut Max Verstappen.
The Crimson Bull workforce determined to lengthen his stint and was successfully dropping loads of race time. The McLarens waited so long as attainable to pit and change to the medium tire. The tactic was to have a compound a number of laps brisker for the ultimate laps of the race. General, the MCL38 automobiles didn’t have a lot degradation, managing the tire fairly effectively. At this stage of the 2024 System 1 championship, the papaya-colored automobiles can handle the tires extra constantly at completely different ambient temperatures and on completely different layouts. Hats off to them. It’s solely truthful to present credit score the place credit score is due.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had the identical tempo on this remaining section of the race. With a lighter automobile, Ferrari labored the medium tire a lot better on this stint. It was all about balancing the temperature over the course of every lap. Because of this, the exhausting tire appeared to work a bit higher. For a similar motive, with much less gasoline within the automobile, the dealing with of the SF-24 improved and consequently the race tempo, however it’s clear that the Ferrari SF-24 automobile nonetheless struggles to search out pure rhythm. Mercedes selected the exhausting tire for the final a part of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
It appears this selection was not the perfect one for Lewis Hamilton, who had indicated that the white-circled tire generated an excessive amount of understeer. Clearly, as we will see from the telemetry knowledge evaluation, McLaren had a number of tenths benefit per lap additionally thanks to wash air. On the finish of the Hungaroring race, the Woking workforce sophisticated issues unnecessarily. Fearing that Lewis Hamilton would possibly assault them given his good tempo, they determined to pit Lando Norris early as a result of the Mercedes driver was about to enter their pit cease window.
This unintentionally precipitated an undercut on Oscar Piastri, who got here out behind his teammate after the cease. Therefore, it was determined to “return” the first place to the Australian, which they’d taken from him. By delaying the ultimate cease, Max Verstappen concentrated all his alternatives within the final laps, the place he had a aggressive tempo and a balanced automobile. His rhythm was much like that of the McLarens that had stopped simply earlier than to modify to the medium tire. After the contact with Lewis Hamilton, nevertheless, Max Verstappen suffered numerous steadiness points and his race ended behind the quantity 16 Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
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