Ferrari continued to ship underwhelming performances in within the third free follow session for the 2024 Components 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the Yas Marina circuit. The 2 pink vehicles had been basically something however quick, though the steadiness had improved in comparison with yesterday. The workforce ran a differentiated program for the Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz the place they examined two various kinds of tires for a lot of the session. Sainz continued engaged on setup optimization with Medium tires, progressively bettering the automotive’s dealing with. In the meantime, Charles “outfitted” the Gentle compounds to develop his technical information.
Within the first case, referring to the Spaniard, issues didn’t appear unhealthy chronometrically. In the meantime, within the second, the Monegasque was not glad. Leclerc tried a brief run to grasp whether or not the pink compounds may present efficiency and reliability within the first stint. Within the final a part of the session, the 2 SF-24s returned to the observe to check their single-lap tempo. The outcomes weren’t good, removed from these achieved by McLaren. It appears the hysteresis cycle of this compound didn’t play out as anticipated, with some overheating within the rear tires throughout Sector 3.
Earlier than the ultimate qualifying session of the season, there was nonetheless time to guage some setup modifications. This transfer got here after analyzing knowledge, which, no less than theoretically, may information the Maranello workforce towards a potential adjustment. All that was left was to attend for qualifying to find out whether or not Ferrari’s efficiency was merely because it appeared or whether or not, with a greater strategy to varied components, the efficiency may enhance considerably in a weekend that’s definitely not stepping into the suitable course.
Now let’s check out how occasions unfolded for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in the qualifying session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:
The 2 Ferrari drivers are of their vehicles. Every thing is prepared for the beginning of this important session for the workforce within the grand scheme of the weekend. It’s essential to offer their greatest in the event that they hope to stay in rivalry for the Constructors’ title. This, regardless of their less-than-exceptional type and the 10-place grid penalty for Leclerc as a consequence of a battery pack alternative. The SF-24 engines are fired up. Shortly after, the mechanics sign the 2 Ferrari drivers to go away the pit lane.
For this primary outing, each vehicles are fitted with a set of Pirelli tires marked with pink rings. It will likely be fascinating to see how the hysteresis cycle performs out to realize most grip from the tires. In the meantime, night time falls over Yas Marina. Through the out-lap, the tempo of the vehicles is sort of brisk. The purpose is to place the correct quantity of power into the tires, making an allowance for that temperatures are decrease than in FP3. Observing Sainz’s dashboard, the entrance axle appears tremendous.
In distinction, the entrance finish is barely cooler, presumably a tactic to keep away from overheating in Abu Dhabi’s third sector. The primary try is nice sufficient for the Ferrari drivers to be referred to as again to the storage. Sainz seems extra in management, whereas Leclerc continues to battle a bit within the final nook, the place he can’t maintain the road optimally. General, the SF-24 vehicles nonetheless show good steadiness. Riccardo Adami suggests accelerating earlier at Flip 5 within the subsequent run, despite the fact that Carlos Sainz is presently the quickest, main his teammate by two-tenths and barely extra over the McLaren vehicles.
To advance previous the minimize, one other try is critical. Charles is the primary to enter the pit lane with brand-new Gentle tires, adopted shortly by his teammate. As soon as once more, the out lap is sort of brisk, and observe place seems good. Push mode is activated on the ultimate nook, after which it’s full throttle. Leclerc runs barely large at Flip 5 and Flip 9 and as soon as once more struggles on the closing nook. Regardless of this, the Monegasque takes the lead, whereas Carlos doesn’t even begin his lap, already secure.
The primary qualifying minimize required Ferrari, in contrast to McLaren, to make use of a second set of red-banded tires. In each circumstances, the preliminary lap instances had been enough, however the Scuderia most popular to not threat a failure. The high-profile elimination in Q1 was Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s future driver. After a short pause to regain focus and composure, the drivers returned to battle on the observe. Each SF-24 vehicles had been outfitted with red-banded Pirelli tires, although now utilizing a scrubbed set.
At this stage of qualifying, it could grow to be clear who actually had a shot at pole place. The Ferrari drivers had been extra cautious with tire activation this time, given the scrubbed set. They maintained this strategy for a lot of the lap, pushing barely tougher within the closing corners. Charles’ lap was promising, however site visitors from Gasly in Sector 3 pressured a mistake that slowed him down considerably.
Sainz additionally encountered heavy site visitors and reported it over the radio. Regardless of these challenges, the Ferraris appeared “clear” in these laps, approaching the apexes extra successfully and overlaying fewer pointless meters. The vehicles returned to the storage, the place contemporary red-banded tires had been mounted. Two minutes later, they had been again on observe. The pit lane was crowded, however the workforce assured the drivers they’d sufficient time to finish their out laps and try their closing runs on this part of qualifying.
The out laps had been once more brisk, and the warm-up technique gave the impression to be working properly. Engine revs climbed, as did hybrid system output. Push mode was activated, and it was full throttle. The Ferrari drivers set the quickest instances. Nevertheless, at Flip 1, Charles exceeded observe limits, leading to his lap being deleted. This left him in 14th place, which, mixed together with his 10-place grid penalty, meant he would begin final. It couldn’t have gone worse for the Monegasque, who made a crucial error on this occasion.
Ferrari was left with only one contender. With Charles out of the image, the probabilities of successful the Constructors’ Championship had been virtually nonexistent. In Components 1, you’ll be able to by no means say by no means till the final nook of the Grand Prix, however beginning final is a heavy blow. The workforce may contemplate altering the remaining energy unit parts, hoping for some additional horsepower. In the meantime, Q3 was nonetheless to be contested, with solely Sainz representing Ferrari. The Spaniard appeared to have a shot at pole in opposition to the McLarens and Max Verstappen’s Purple Bull.
It was time to offer it every little thing. Carlos Sainz took to the observe with used tires for his first run. As earlier than, he prevented pushing the tires too arduous. This lap was meant to gauge observe evolution earlier than switching to contemporary compounds. His preliminary lap was stable, but it surely wanted to be topped off with a closing try on pristine Softs. Carlos meticulously ready his lap, following the identical routine as earlier than.
His efficiency, nevertheless, was not flawless. In Sector 1, he made a mistake. At Flip 7 in Sector 2, he utilized throttle too early and needed to right the automotive on exit. Within the closing nook, he as soon as once more made an adjustment. The Spanish driver may have completed significantly better, in the end securing solely third place when pole place was inside attain with out these errors. Ferrari did not optimize a qualifying session that might have resulted in a front-row lockout for the workforce, despite the fact that Charles Leclerc has a ten-place grid penalty and whould have began from outdoors the highest ten anyway. At this level, hope lies solely within the eyes of the followers. We await tomorrow, however the Maranello workforce appears to have handed the Constructors’ title on a silver platter to McLaren.
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