Within the twenty second qualifying session of the 2024 Method 1 championship, Scuderia Ferrari continued the work with the delicate compound that started through the last free follow session on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada with out making important 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 automobiles ran the usual flooring 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 prompted slight understeer on nook entry in sure areas, resembling Flip 7. Ferrari centered extensively on tire preparation, which required appreciable work even throughout the qualifying session itself. The Maranello staff continuously communicated with the drivers through radio, suggesting methods like weaving on straights to create a thermal cycle that would generate ample temperature within the entrance tires firstly of a lap. Sustaining this temperature was additionally essential, because the lengthy straights prompted it to drop under the goal vary.
This concern, significantly on the tire tread, was intently monitored, with the staff aiming to make the most of a level of understeer to warmth the tire floor. Finally, this influenced the technique for warm laps. The principle 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 situations. By attaining higher steadiness, they managed to function their automobile throughout the optimum efficiency window.
This consequence was one thing the Maranello staff had struggled with in latest races. With monitor temperatures at 13.5°C and ambient temperatures round 12°C, unusually chilly situations for Method 1, the W15 single-seater proved significantly efficient. This automobile naturally overheats its rear tires and generates important friction on the tire floor. Like Ferrari, Mercedes employed weaving through the warm-up lap however averted a prep lap. Nonetheless, with a extra superior steadiness, they have been much less affected by understeer in low- and medium-speed sections.
Optimum tire administration allowed the Brackley staff to excel within the first sector, a significant weak spot for Ferrari, which then needed to recuperate misplaced time within the the rest of the Las Vegas lap. This factors to a recurring concern with the SF-24 automobile, particularly inadequate entrance tire temperature firstly of the lap. George Russell gained considerably in Turns 2, 3, and 4, primarily resulting from better-prepared tires that offered larger grip ranges. McLaren, then again, struggled not solely within the preliminary a part of the circuit but additionally continued dropping time between Turns 5 and 9.
Solely in Flip 5 did it lose virtually two-tenths, dropping 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 principle limitation stays the straights, the place they’re unable to achieve on Mercedes. At low speeds, they may have extracted extra from the automobile and the Gentle tire. On nook entry, each MCL38 automobiles lacked important grip, dropping useful time. Lastly, Pink Bull confronted important difficulties right here in Las Vegas.
Max Verstappen secured a fifth-place end, salvaging the consequence, whereas Sergio Perez was as soon as once more eradicated in Q1. The work carried out by the Austrian staff on the rear wing made headlines: the Pink Bull engineers used a Dremel to chop the trailing fringe of the extra flap, additional lowering the wing’s chord, realizing that the one ready for Las Vegas was not sufficiently low-drag. This modification improved the highest pace however didn’t yield important advantages over the lap, particularly when it comes to traction. From this, we will draw a conclusion.
In proportion phrases, 50% of the difficulties may 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. In all probability, when it comes to mechanical setup, Pink Bull needed to compromise on suspension stiffness to attempt to put vitality into the tires, particularly the entrance ones. These temperature points on the entrance axle have emerged previously, even when the Milton Keynes staff was dominant.
Lastly, we check out the telemetry knowledge and if we observe the perfect instances of the principle groups, we see that the majority drivers set their greatest lap in Q3 aside from Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time Method 1 world champion and future Ferrari driver, the truth is, didn’t put collectively a clear lap resulting from 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 gathered within the opening sector.
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