Within the twenty second qualifying session of the 2024 Components 1 championship, Scuderia Ferrari continued the work with the gentle compound that started through the last free apply session on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada with out making vital 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 ground specification, with out the up to date edge particulars. From a dealing with perspective, there was a normal extra of rotation, with steadiness shifting noticeably towards the rear at decrease speeds.
This attribute precipitated slight understeer on nook entry in sure areas, akin to Flip 7. Ferrari centered extensively on tire preparation, which required appreciable work even throughout the qualifying session itself. The Maranello group continuously communicated with the drivers through radio, suggesting strategies like weaving on straights to create a thermal cycle that might generate enough temperature within the entrance tires at first of a lap. Sustaining this temperature was additionally essential, because the lengthy straights precipitated it to drop beneath the goal vary.
This challenge, notably on the tire tread, was intently monitored, with the group 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 primary 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 Pink Bull, as we’ll see later. In the meantime, Mercedes bought their tire warm-up technique spot on, thanks additionally to the traits of the W15 automobile in low temperature circumstances. By attaining higher steadiness, they managed to function their automobile throughout the optimum efficiency window.
This consequence was one thing the Maranello group had struggled with in latest races. With observe temperatures at 13.5°C and ambient temperatures round 12°C, unusually chilly circumstances for Components 1, the W15 single-seater proved notably efficient. This automobile naturally overheats its rear tires and generates vital friction on the tire floor. Like Ferrari, Mercedes employed weaving through the warm-up lap however averted a prep lap. Nevertheless, with a extra superior steadiness, they had been much less affected by understeer in low- and medium-speed sections.
Optimum tire administration allowed the Brackley group to excel within the first sector, a significant weak spot for Ferrari, which then needed to get better misplaced time within the the rest of the Las Vegas lap. This factors to a recurring challenge with the SF-24 automobile, particularly inadequate entrance tire temperature at first of the lap. George Russell gained considerably in Turns 2, 3, and 4, primarily attributable to better-prepared tires that offered greater grip ranges. McLaren, then again, struggled not solely within the preliminary a part of the circuit but additionally continued shedding time between Turns 5 and 9.
Solely in Flip 5 did it lose nearly two-tenths, shedding an equal quantity within the low-speed part between Turns 7 and 9. After this part, the hole remained nearly 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 Tender tire. On nook entry, each MCL38 vehicles lacked vital grip, shedding priceless time. Lastly, Pink Bull confronted vital difficulties right here in Las Vegas.
Max Verstappen secured a fifth-place end, salvaging the outcome, whereas Sergio Perez was as soon as once more eradicated in Q1. The work accomplished by the Austrian group on the rear wing made headlines: the Pink 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 velocity however didn’t yield vital 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 totally resolve the problems on the straights or enhance traction. The opposite 50% is because of tire warm-up. Most likely, when it comes to mechanical setup, Pink 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 previously, even when the Milton Keynes group was dominant.
Lastly, we check out the telemetry information and if we observe the best occasions of the primary groups, we see that the majority drivers set their finest lap in Q3 aside from Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time Components 1 world champion and future Ferrari driver, in reality, did not put collectively a clear lap attributable to his personal mistake. With out this error, his W15, quantity 44, may have reached third place, behind Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver was only one and a half-tenths behind, with all of it amassed within the opening sector.
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