Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Scuderia Ferrari is definitely the occasion that defines the pre-season of Method 1. It’s an incidence that each Liberty Media and the Worldwide Federation are winking at, conscious of the impression of this pairing and the visibility it can convey to an important class of motorsport. Nonetheless, even among the many incurable optimists, there’s a doubt that nobody dares to voice. So, we’ll voice it: is the seven-time Method 1 world champion on the downward slope of his outstanding profession filled with achievements?
Will he nonetheless have the ability to return to being the successful driver he was till the 2021 season, at forty years outdated? Is the partnership with Ferrari an excessive try to search out motivation, now tucked away because of the mediocrity of Mercedes’ latest technical initiatives? Within the final three years, all numerical indicators have favored his Mercedes teammate. George Russell, ranging from the 2022 Method 1 championship, has secured extra wins, extra pole positions, and in two out of three seasons, he has completed forward of the seven-time world champion within the driver standings.
A superficial observer, primarily based on these details, might solely declare the next: Lewis Hamilton is now a “completed” driver who sought a “retirement” in Maranello to finish his extraordinary profession. In any case, as Sebastian Vettel stated in a well-known interview, deep down, everyone seems to be a fan of Ferrari. A advertising operation certain to succeed, however with many questions on the potential for seeing the “prime” model of the British driver once more. To transcend the statistical knowledge, we performed an evaluation.
Probably the most dependable efficiency indices are two: lap velocity and race tempo. As for Saturday, the partial rating of 19 to five towards George Russell leaves little room for excuses. However for race tempo, the state of affairs may be very totally different. Discounting three rounds through which the 2 Silver Arrows didn’t make it to the checkered flag, it’s evident that Lewis Hamilton’ tempo was superior to George Russell’s 12 instances out of 21. This can be a very shocking truth, demonstrating Lewis Hamilton’s means to “hammer” over the 300 kilometer distance as in the perfect phases of his astonishing profession.
This can be a knowledge level that holds the next qualitative worth than anticipated as a result of the British driver virtually at all times began behind his fellow countryman and, in lots of circumstances, acquired entangled in midfield battles that have been very detrimental to his race technique. Simply consider the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the place the brand new Ferrari driver was clearly the quickest, however his grid place didn’t permit him to transcend second place, proper behind his youthful teammate. There’s an attention-grabbing truth right here, pondering of the Prancing Horse on this regard.
By some unusual coincidence, contemplating the 2024 Method 1 season marketing campaign for Ferrari, there’s a widespread future. Each Lewis Hamilton and the Maranello staff’s future automotive will goal to enhance efficiency on the one lap. Final season, Charles Leclerc, the most effective qualifiers within the historical past of the highest class, solely secured three pole positions. This regardless of the SF-24 being, general, an excellent automotive.
We’re speaking a few clear end result stemming from the exact intent of the technicians and engineers at Maranello, who, throughout the design section, determined to create a Method 1 automotive extra centered on efficiency throughout the race, with an eye fixed on the mere administration of tires over the 300 kilometer distance. One of many points that has at all times plagued Italian automobiles lately. On this regard, we will say that this end result has largely been achieved by the Maranello staff, regardless of the “troubled” growth plan that successfully affected a doubtlessly successful season.
Nonetheless, to be extra particular, in qualifying, tire preparation was typically advanced, compromising the grid place of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The Singapore Grand Prix weekend on the Marina Bay Avenue Circuit is enlightening on this sense. Because of this, the Ferrari challenge 677 was produced to placed on monitor a automotive able to delivering most efficiency even on a single lap, serving to Lewis Hamilton regain the arrogance he misplaced within the final three years, throughout which he secured just one pole place on the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix. As for the races, as talked about, there shall be no efficiency points.
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