Ferrari should give its all within the twenty third race of the 2024 F1 season. There isn’t a different strategy to preserve the championship dream alive. A title bid that slipped away in Might, as we are going to by no means tire of recalling, when the technical division led by Italian aerodynamicist and former Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile launched a deceptive aerodynamic replace. That flooring upset Ferrari’s plans and made the 2 SF-24 vehicles tough to deal with.
Returning to the current, let’s take an in depth take a look at how occasions unfolded for the Maranello group on the 5.419-kilometre Lusail Worldwide Circuit: all vehicles are on the beginning grid. The Ferrari drivers are about to get into their vehicles, and focus is at its peak.
Earlier than beginning, listed here are the environmental situations: air temperature at 19.4°C, observe floor temperature at 23.6°C. Humidity is pretty excessive at 55%, with a 2.2 kilometers per hour wind blowing from the north. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are lastly of their vehicles after the mechanics accomplished the standard checks: energy unit, transmission, braking system, and hybrid system. Ferrari race engineers Riccardo Adami and Bryan Bozzi present the ultimate briefings on pre-race operations. Minutes earlier than the reconnaissance lap, the Ferrari drivers are knowledgeable concerning the tire selections of their direct rivals.
All drivers have chosen Pirelli yellow-banded tires, aside from Nico Hülkenberg, who opted for the Laborious compound to increase the primary stint. The set up lap could be very fast for everybody. Earlier than repositioning on the grid, the standard 4 burnouts happen, utilizing the RB place 1 mapping to warmth the rear tire compounds with brake warmth. At first, Leclerc surprises Piastri and overtakes him, whereas Carlos Sainz holds his place. Inside one lap, the primary Security Automobile is deployed following a collision between Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto.
Underneath double yellow flags, tire administration turns into vital. Marshals work to clear the observe whereas Ferrari drivers concentrate on sustaining the goal tire temperature. The K1 overboost is activated and can be utilized till Flip 1 to assault or defend. The pack regroups on the finish of lap 4 for the restart. Sadly, Piastri makes use of DRS to regain his place from Charles Leclerc. The 2 Ferraris at the moment are fifth and sixth. They intention to maintain tempo with the leaders whereas managing their tires.
Important tire saving is critical, which doesn’t assist race tempo. Consequently, the hole between the SF-24s and the lead group widens shortly. Charles Leclerc factors out that this technique of managing the compounds is inflicting them to lose time, however Bryan Bozzi insists on persistence. Technique discussions flip to Plan A after ten laps. The plan seemingly includes a one-stop technique, switching to Laborious tires. They inform Carlos Sainz that Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes is experiencing graining.
Carlos Sainz asks if the identical concern is going on on the McLarens. Nonetheless, on-board footage of the MCL38s exhibits no indicators of it. By lap 15, Ferrari’s pit wall provides the go-ahead to extend tempo, progressively however with out overdoing it. Observing the Ferraris’ dealing with, their strains are clear at this stage, although there’s nonetheless a slight understeer. Shortly afterward, the drivers are requested for a tire section replace to evaluate compound situations and refine the race tire technique.
Charles Leclerc acknowledges the state of affairs however speaks up on the radio, requesting a test on the tire pressures, which he feels aren’t optimum. The group runs a test and informs the Monegasque that the whole lot is continuing as deliberate. Moreover, it’s famous that some lifting is critical at Flip 14, although the race tempo at this stage is stable. In reality, a part of the hole between the Ferraris and Piastri has been closed. It’s time to push arduous on this stint to get as shut as potential and doubtlessly try an undercut on the McLaren driver.
Nonetheless, the hole doesn’t lower, as these forward are additionally pushing arduous. By lap 23, the state of affairs stays unchanged. Basically, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are faster on this first stint, whereas Russell and Piastri are matching Charles Leclerc’s tempo. Carlos Sainz is barely behind, dropping floor to his teammate. George Russell pits on lap 24 to change to Laborious tires, a bit sooner than Ferrari’s estimates. Observing the dashboard of automotive #16 on lap 27, it’s famous that the left-side tires are at temperature, whereas the right-side tires are barely cooler.
The reason being easy: the distinctive traits of the observe format. Curiously, the Ferrari drivers obtain completely different suggestions concerning the Laborious tires. On Carlos’s radio, the activation of the white-banded tires is described as regular and as anticipated. Bozzi, nonetheless, mentions difficulties, requiring extra time for activation. This means the vehicles deal with tire warm-up otherwise. On lap 30, George Russell finds himself caught in visitors after his pit cease, whereas the 2 Ferraris comply with the McLarens, making an attempt to keep up a great tempo.
The hole stays unchanged, whereas Carlos Sainz struggles extra with tire administration, significantly the entrance tires, that are progressively degrading. Sainz requests a pit cease because the entrance tires are shot and seems to be struggling a sluggish puncture. Certainly, the entrance tire fails, costing the Spaniard important time. He manages to return to the pits to have his tires modified, however the timing couldn’t be worse: as he re-enters the pits, the Security Automobile is deployed. Charles Leclerc takes benefit of this by pitting and saving time.
Since Piastri had pitted the lap earlier than, Charles Leclerc emerges forward of the Australian upon returning to the observe. Carlos Sainz, in the meantime, is in eighth place, simply behind Russell. Underneath double yellow flags, the vehicles are pressured to cross via the pit lane to permit marshals to clear the observe. The excellent news for Ferrari is that Charles has closed the 10-second hole he had gathered in the course of the first stint and is now behind the highest two. On lap 40, the Security Automobile leaves, and the drivers resume racing. This time, Charles Leclerc should keep away from being caught by Oscar Piastri.
Charles Leclerc doesn’t get a powerful restart and has to struggle arduous to maintain Piastri behind him, however he manages to take action. It’s a tricky battle to maintain the automotive on observe. Sainz good points a place and strikes as much as seventh place. Inside a lap, the Security Automobile is deployed once more attributable to particles on the observe. Activating the Laborious tires proves to be an actual problem, with Leclerc describing it on the radio as a nightmare. The pit wall has no particular options, suggesting the standard mappings and zig-zag maneuvers for the entrance tires. On lap 43, the race resumes on chilly tires, utilizing the K1 mode till Flip 1.
Charles Leclerc makes an attempt to slipstream Norris however finds no alternative to overhaul on the skin of Flip 1, because the Briton skillfully blocks all paths. Sainz additionally fails to achieve any positions. The brand new menace is Oscar Piastri, glued to the rear of automotive #16, with 14 laps remaining. The Ferrari tires are under temperature, as seen on the dashboard. On lap 45, excellent news arrives: McLaren receives a 10-second penalty for not respecting a yellow flag.
Charles Leclerc, now in third, is just about in second place. Norris is pressured to pit and reenters in fifteenth place. Sainz, in sixth, tries to overhaul Gasly with out success. Whereas it’s not an entire McLaren catastrophe, the penalty to Norris appears harsh, as different drivers additionally appeared to disregard the yellow flag. For Ferrari, it’s essential to maintain Piastri in third place, behind a Leclerc giving the whole lot he’s received.
Carlos Sainz’s purpose is to overhaul Pierre Gasly in any respect prices and safe fifth place. In the meantime, Max Verstappen is in a league of his personal, pulling away from everybody. Charles Leclerc is pushing arduous as Oscar Piastri stays inside putting distance, simply over a second behind. That is the state of affairs with six laps to go. Sadly, Sainz isn’t driving nicely, showing tense and making a mistake on the ultimate nook, dropping contact. The battle continues relentlessly.
There are moments of nice pressure on observe. Carlos catches as much as Gasly and makes an attempt to overhaul however is unsuccessful. The 2 race engineers present most help to the Ferrari drivers. Riccardo Adami on the radio urges Carlos Sainz to maintain pushing, as Ferrari want this outcome. The Spanish driver provides it his all however fails to cross the Alpine’s French driver, however is sadly unable to take action.
Contemplating the ultimate positions, Ferrari good points 9 factors on McLaren, lowering the hole to 21. Regardless of a weekend the place Ferrari was weaker than McLaren, the result wasn’t too unhealthy.
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