Within the twenty second qualifying session of the 2024 Method 1 championship, Scuderia Ferrari continued the work with the tender compound that started through the remaining free apply session on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada with out making important setup adjustments. The low-drag rear wing, which is the specification beforehand seen within the Italian Grand Prix on the Monza circuit was confirmed, whereas each SF-24 vehicles ran the usual flooring specification, with out the up to date edge particulars. From a dealing with perspective, there was a normal extra of rotation, with stability shifting noticeably towards the rear at decrease speeds.
This attribute precipitated slight understeer on nook entry in sure areas, reminiscent of Flip 7. Ferrari centered extensively on tire preparation, which required appreciable work even throughout the qualifying session itself. The Maranello staff regularly communicated with the drivers through radio, suggesting strategies like weaving on straights to create a thermal cycle that might generate adequate temperature within the entrance tires in the beginning of a lap. Sustaining this temperature was additionally essential, because the lengthy straights precipitated it to drop under the goal vary.
This concern, notably on the tire tread, was carefully monitored, with the staff aiming to make the most of a level of understeer to warmth the tire floor. In the end, this influenced the technique for decent laps. The principle query was whether or not to incorporate an extra preparation lap past the out-lap. In Q3, Ferrari opted to not carry out a preparation lap, not like Crimson Bull, as we are going to see later. In the meantime, Mercedes received their tire warm-up technique spot on, thanks additionally to the traits of the W15 automobile in low temperature circumstances. By attaining higher stability, they managed to function their automobile inside the optimum efficiency window.
This end result was one thing the Maranello staff had struggled with in latest races. With observe temperatures at 13.5°C and ambient temperatures round 12°C, unusually chilly circumstances for Method 1, the W15 single-seater proved notably efficient. This automobile naturally overheats its rear tires and generates important friction on the tire floor. Like Ferrari, Mercedes employed weaving through the warm-up lap however averted a prep lap. Nonetheless, with a extra superior stability, they have been much less affected by understeer in low- and medium-speed sections.
Optimum tire administration allowed the Brackley staff to excel within the first sector, a significant weak point for Ferrari, which then needed to get better misplaced time within the the rest of the Las Vegas lap. This factors to a recurring concern with the SF-24 automobile, specifically inadequate entrance tire temperature in the beginning of the lap. George Russell gained considerably in Turns 2, 3, and 4, primarily on account of better-prepared tires that offered greater grip ranges. McLaren, however, struggled not solely within the preliminary a part of the circuit but in addition continued dropping time between Turns 5 and 9.
Solely in Flip 5 did it lose nearly two-tenths, dropping an equal quantity within the low-speed part between Turns 7 and 9. After this part, the hole remained just about fixed. In comparison with Ferrari, the primary limitation stays the straights, the place they’re unable to achieve on Mercedes. At low speeds, they might have extracted extra from the automobile and the Gentle tire. On nook entry, each MCL38 vehicles lacked important grip, dropping useful time. Lastly, Crimson Bull confronted important difficulties right here in Las Vegas.
Max Verstappen secured a fifth-place end, salvaging the end result, whereas Sergio Perez was as soon as once more eradicated in Q1. The work performed by the Austrian staff on the rear wing made headlines: the Crimson Bull engineers used a Dremel to chop the trailing fringe of the extra flap, additional decreasing the wing’s chord, realizing that the one ready for Las Vegas was not sufficiently low-drag. This modification improved the highest pace however didn’t yield important advantages over the lap, particularly when it comes to traction. From this, we will draw a conclusion.
In share phrases, 50% of the difficulties might be attributed to setup, which didn’t absolutely resolve the problems on the straights or enhance traction. The opposite 50% is because of tire warm-up. In all probability, when it comes to mechanical setup, Crimson Bull needed to compromise on suspension stiffness to attempt to put power into the tires, particularly the entrance ones. These temperature points on the entrance axle have emerged prior to now, even when the Milton Keynes staff was dominant.
Lastly, we check out the telemetry knowledge and if we observe the best occasions of the primary groups, we see that the majority drivers set their greatest lap in Q3 aside from Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time Method 1 world champion and future Ferrari driver, in reality, didn’t put collectively a clear lap on account of his personal mistake. With out this error, his W15, quantity 44, might have reached third place, behind Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver was only one and a half-tenths behind, with all of it accrued within the opening sector.
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