Ferrari sadly misplaced the 2024 System 1 Constructors’ Championship and this didn’t occur on account of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, however over the course of the season. We have now to confess that McLaren deserved it extra, regardless of committing quite a few errors. Let’s break it down, beginning with the final spherical of the season, which was held on the 5.281-kilometre Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island. For the primary stint, groups opted for the yellow tires, avoiding the purple ones resulting from vital thermal administration points over lengthy distances. At first, it was essential for the MCL38 vehicles to have a clear launch. That didn’t occur, making the race instantly tougher. Carlos Sainz discovered himself behind Lando Norris after Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri collided at flip 1 and the Spanish driver tried to “construct up” tire temperature progressively.
It was a problem on each axes, however particularly on the rear finish. Charles Leclerc made up 12 positions on the opening lap. Beginning on Mediums, his race shortly aligned with that of the main pack, whereas Lando Norris managed to create a small security margin early on, round 2-3 seconds. With Oscar Piastri dropping to final place after the primary lap, the group determined to carry him in for Arduous tires, aiming to increase the stint and execute an efficient undercut on slower drivers.
In any other case, he would have misplaced vital time overtaking everybody on observe. Moreover, this supplied the group with worthwhile knowledge on the Arduous tires and their put on profile over the stint. Max Verstappen had good tempo, however his entrance finish was tough to manage thermally. As soon as it overheated, the Purple Bull driver reported he might not brake successfully. Forward of his pit cease, he was requested if he wished a flap adjustment. The Dutchman agreed however famous there was little that may very well be finished, it was the entrance finish overheating excessively.
In Flip 3, all drivers wanted cautious administration to keep away from stressing the tires. At McLaren, round lap 18, Lando Norris reported early tire administration points, occurring before anticipated. On observe, nevertheless, there was no noticeable efficiency drop. Their most important limitation was the entrance proper tire. At this level, because the pit-stop home windows opened, Carlos Sainz was 4 seconds behind the British driver, an honest hole however not sufficient, given the sturdy undercut impact at Yas Marina.
This was exacerbated by the numerous observe degradation in Abu Dhabi. On lap 20, Ferrari tried to trick Mercedes with a pretend pit name to lure George Russell’s W15 into an early cease, however Mercedes didn’t fall for it. At that second, groups have been attempting to increase their stints to realize a tire benefit for the following section whereas additionally exploiting the facility of the undercut. On the next lap, as Charles Leclerc started dropping race time behind George Russell, the Monegasque driver pitted.
Ferrari had decided that at that stage, they have been squandering precious time that will delay their comeback. On lap 26, Carlos Sainz additionally pitted to try an undercut on Lando Norris’s McLaren MCL38. Nonetheless, the next lap, McLaren reacted, calling the British driver in to modify to the Arduous tires and retaining the place. The Spaniard put collectively a really fast out-lap and, upon exiting the pits, discovered himself 1.6 seconds behind the quantity 4 MCL38. The long run Williams driver didn’t try an assault, as a gradual introduction to the tire was important so as to have the ability to lengthen its lifespan.
Through the early laps of the second stint, Ferrari targeted on Arduous tire administration, notably in Flip 3 and its entry. Charles Leclerc was knowledgeable that strategists have been contemplating Plan C, a single-stop technique. The Monegasque, nevertheless, responded that it appeared overly optimistic. McLaren confronted the same state of affairs, with tire degradation administration zones targeted on Turns 2 and three. Lando Norris’s engineer advised he might push a bit more durable. One other space the place the McLaren driver was dropping time was braking into Turns 5 and 6.
Subsequently, they started assessing the chance that Carlos Sainz won’t cease once more, trying a single-stop technique to complete the race on the white tires. In that case, they requested Lando Norris if he thought he might overtake Carlos Sainz on observe, as they have been satisfied Ferrari would make a second pit cease. Charles Leclerc, in the meantime, skilled some graining with the Arduous tires, resulting in a level of understeer. This section of the tire usually clears up after just a few laps, permitting efficiency to stabilize.
As may be seen from the telemetry knowledge, Lando Norris prolonged his lead even within the second stint, as Carlos Sainz was unable to remain near him. Finally, the drivers succeeded with the single-stop technique, together with Charles Leclerc, who had just a few further laps to cowl on the Arduous tires. By way of numbers, Ferrari and McLaren completed the season just about on par, with the papaya-colored vehicles barely forward by about one-tenth.
On a observe with manageable degradation, Ferrari as soon as once more demonstrated its stable race tempo this yr. The power points with temperature stabilization are not obvious, and the tire phases are actually extra linear, struggling much less from put on. Max Verstappen might have completed near the 2 Mercedes vehicles of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton with out the 10-second penalty, however Purple Bull ends the 2024 System 1 championship with some front-end points, exhibiting restricted grip, just like final week, within the quicker corners of the Yas Marina circuit.
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