What a stupendous Ferrari we’ve got seen currently. A Method 1 crew that has slowly and progressively emerged from its technical deadlock, getting again on prime, as Flavio Briatore would say. Three wins within the final 5 races have definitely not come by likelihood, and it may have been 4 if not for a misjudgment on the Baku Metropolis Circuit in Azerbaijan. And possibly even 5 if the Maranello crew would have higher assessed tire activation throughout qualifying on the Singapore Grand Prix. In brief, a Ferrari on the offensive. The purpose for this third and closing spherical of the triple-header stays the identical.
Ferrari is aiming for victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix, with a powerful need to maintain the dream of the Constructors’ Championship alive. A relatively wasteful McLaren may nonetheless assist, because the crew led by Andrea Stella can also be centered on the drivers’ championship battle with Lando Norris, whereas Oscar Piastri, the Australian, has appeared nearly like a shadow of himself for the reason that Baku weekend. Repeating success in Method 1 isn’t simple, particularly with very decided rivals. Nevertheless, the historic Italian crew is exhibiting nice dedication, and the concern of profitable appears to have left the crew. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are giving their all and elevating the Italian colours worldwide, as technical consciousness of its capabilities drives the SF-24 to new heights.
The 4.309-kilometre Interlagos circuit, formally generally known as Autódromo José Carlos Tempo, is a historic and extremely technical monitor for Method 1. It unfolds in a mixture of lengthy straights with technical sectors, significantly the second, the place tight turns and chicanes demand a excessive degree of driving precision. Interlagos can also be well-known for its unpredictable climate, usually forcing groups to adapt the setup of the automotive. For Ferrari, at present in a really optimistic interval, this occasion represents one other likelihood to place the SF-24 to the check on a monitor that rewards each prime velocity and traction within the extra sluggish sections.
The Prancing Horse arrives in Brazil with a powerful, well-balanced aerodynamic bundle, because of an working window vast sufficient to adapt to totally different layouts on this 2024 Method 1 calendar. After current races, the Maranello crew appears capable of finding steadiness on every monitor, minimizing the weaknesses of its automotive whereas absolutely exploiting its strengths. Because of this, in contrast to in different Method 1 seasons, tracks with totally different traits not characterize an insurmountable impediment.
Because of this, Ferrari’s confidence in its capabilities could be very excessive in the intervening time. Final yr, the crew selected a setup that favored prime velocity, with a view to acquire time within the quicker sections, particularly on the principle straight and the part resulting in turns 4 and 5. This yr, following final season’s pattern, the crimson automotive will purpose to optimize prime velocity, because it did in Mexico, the place between Friday and Saturday they lowered aerodynamic load from the Monaco specification, transferring to a medium-high setup first seen on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
For the Brazilian Grand Prix, it’s anticipated that the Italian crew will go for an method much like final Sunday’s, specializing in a extra versatile specification appropriate for blended circuits. In 2023, it’s price recalling that Ferrari struggled in sluggish corners, significantly on the first chicane, at turns 4 and 5, as a result of an endemic lack of vertical load. Reducing the trip heights had yielded good outcomes by way of qualifying efficiency, however this selection finally compromised general efficiency over the 300-kilometer race distance. This yr, nevertheless, the SF-24 automotive has proven higher steadiness at low speeds, in addition to agility on the curbs, that are additionally much less pronounced in Interlagos than in Mexico.
On the similar time, Ferrari has to deal with the optimum tire administration throughout the race. The Maranello crew’s technicians and engineers have labored to construct a compromise favoring the slower sections, even when this implies sacrificing some efficiency in excessive downforce corners, like flip 12, the place in 2023 the Ferrari misplaced nearly a tenth and a half, which it then recovered with velocity within the high-speed part resulting in the end line. In quick corners, the SF-24 will search a compromise with suspension stiffness. The purpose is to handle aerodynamic load for the race, the place common speeds in quick sections lower together with the required downforce.
In qualifying, the Italian F1 crew depends on the motive force’s sensitivity to handle the automotive’s rear, prioritizing prime velocity. This selection goals to create a automotive efficient over lengthy runs and suited to tire preservation throughout the race. Interlagos is especially demanding on tire compounds, characterised by excessive degradation, a scenario that in 2023 compelled drivers to handle the compounds all through the race and considerably restrict efficiency. This yr, Ferrari goals to keep away from such problematic administration.
This may even be achieved with higher management over floor and carcass temperature. The SF-24 has proven enchancment on this space, mixed with a setup designed to maintain the tires in an optimum temperature window and keep away from compromising race tempo as final yr. Within the second sector, varied sections place stress on the rear axle in traction, the place micro-slips have to be prevented to ease tire administration. Ferrari begins off the Sao Paulo weekend assured, satisfied that it might battle for victory in Brazil.
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