The eve of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix within the Ferrari camp started with the motto of believing and pushing till the top to keep away from any regrets. The constructors’ title didn’t go to Maranello, however on this decisive weekend, the staff left no stone unturned, though the weekend grew to become sophisticated earlier than the observe classes, as a result of battery substitute on Charles Leclerc’s SF-24.
After the race, Ferrari staff principal Frederic Vasseur defined that past efficiency considerations, the actual difficulty prompting the substitute was the danger of a race retirement, one thing the Italian facet clearly couldn’t afford given the aim of retaining their championship hopes alive. Undoubtedly, the penalty was a bitter word to start out the weekend, which was additional sophisticated by Charles Leclerc’s lap time cancellation in Q2, successfully sending him to the again of the grid.
The night time between Saturday and Sunday was filled with deliberation, particularly relating to whether or not to exchange the Energy Unit. Ultimately, they determined to stay with the unit already mounted on the automobile. This choice made sense, because the degradation of the inner combustion engine over its life cycle has been diminished, notably since groups have targeted extra on reliability than pure energy following the freeze.
What stunned most was the choice to start out on medium tires, not solely as a result of there was at all times the danger that contact may additional compromise the race but additionally as a result of the onerous tire doubtlessly supplied better strategic flexibility in a race the place there have been nonetheless some doubts, regardless of the overall intention to purpose for a one-stop technique. It’s no coincidence that groups saved a second set of onerous tires as a backup.
It was an all-in on the beginning, and it paid off, realistically exceeding Ferrari’s finest expectations. To know why this was a daring alternative and, above all, an attacking technique, we have to return twelve months to final 12 months’s GP. Even then, restricted tire degradation would have allowed for a one-stop technique, however some groups’ early pit stops created a domino impact, shifting the race in direction of two stops.
This state of affairs re-emerged this 12 months. Pirelli’s calculations steered {that a} one-stop technique ought to have been just a few seconds quicker than a two-stop, typically encouraging groups to purpose for one cease whereas managing degradation. Nonetheless, if final 12 months’s scenario repeated, the race may have shifted to 2 stops, which a number of groups thought-about at one level throughout the Grand Prix.
Thus, the onerous tire may have been a cautious however logical alternative. Whereas it might not have supplied distinctive grip in the beginning, it might have allowed for an extended stint, observing rivals’ methods, and doubtlessly capitalizing on a Security Automobile at an opportune second. This was Mercedes’ reasoning, whereas Ferrari instantly clarified their attacking technique. If the beginning had not gone nicely, recovering with the identical tires because the rivals would undoubtedly have required rethinking many facets mid-race.
Conversely, Ferrari’s gamble on an aggressive race paid off higher than anticipated. Charles Leclerc’s sensible first lap was aided by a little bit of luck, with some favorable incidents, however his potential to extract the utmost, discover area, consider in himself, and make a distinction stood out. Rising to eighth place straight away put the Monegasque ready to doubtlessly battle top-tier rivals on equal strategic footing at a degree within the race when the profitable tactic was nonetheless unclear.
Finally, the medium tire turned from a possible danger into one of many keys to the rostrum. Charles Leclerc continued to climb the standings, reaching fourth place, earlier than going through the problem of George Russell, who was barely off kind this weekend in comparison with different races after dedicating a part of observe to experimental testing for the 2025 System 1 season.
Though Charles Leclerc had good tempo, overtaking in Abu Dhabi is difficult, particularly when coming into soiled air, which will increase tire sliding within the third sector. This led Ferrari to deliberate on their subsequent transfer: after Mercedes didn’t take the bait on a feint geared toward pushing them right into a pit cease, Ferrari determined to tug the set off and name in Charles Leclerc.
At a time when different groups had already stopped, shifting the race in direction of two pit stops, Ferrari’s choice was not with out doubts. The pit window was roughly the identical as final 12 months when the race shifted to 2 stops, making the danger of a repeat vital. If the onerous tire held, Charles Leclerc would want to finish 38 laps on the identical set. Moreover, stopping early risked encountering site visitors from drivers like Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg, who had modified tires 5–6 laps earlier.
Stopping early was an aggressive but calculated alternative, as additionally they saved a watch on Lewis Hamilton, lower than ten seconds behind and clearly on a one-stop technique. Just like the preliminary medium tire alternative, this daring choice paid off, not solely as a result of the undercut labored but additionally as a result of the race unfolded as Ferrari had hoped.
Wanting on the first stint on onerous tires, many doubted whether or not the toughest compound may final till the top, and there was hypothesis in regards to the subsequent pit window. When requested in code if he thought the tires may go the gap, even Charles Leclerc expressed doubts.
Nonetheless, lap by lap, degradation proved manageable, shifting the race from a two-stop to a one-stop technique, making Ferrari’s alternative efficient, particularly towards Lewis Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc’s comeback boiled down to 2 key elements: his potential to ship a surprising first lap and keep sturdy tempo in key race moments, and Ferrari’s daring technique. The Maranello staff took dangers in a Grand Prix the place they aimed to grab their possibilities till the top, leaving no room for remorse.
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