Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc secured pole place and fought to win the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix final yr, however he admits the Maranello staff may need made life extra “tough” for themselves heading into this season’s occasion which is ready to happen on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada, USA, on Saturday, November 23.
The 20 drivers on the pinnacle of motorsport will roll the cube in Sin Metropolis as soon as extra subsequent season. Charles Leclerc hopes the Italian facet can ship an improved efficiency on the Las Vegas Grand Prix after a difficult outing in São Paulo, the place he completed fifth and Carlos Sainz suffered a crash.
McLaren additionally prolonged their lead within the Constructors’ Championship barely in Brazil, thanks largely to a one-two end within the F1 Dash. Carlos Sainz’s dominant win on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix had introduced Ferrari inside 29 factors of McLaren. Nonetheless, the Scuderia now path their rivals by 36 factors.
Charles Leclerc acknowledges that Ferrari’s enhancements in tire administration may pose challenges in Las Vegas
Ferrari tailored shortly to the distinctive circumstances confronted through the inaugural Las Vegas GP in 2023. With a neighborhood begin time of 10:00 PM on Saturday night time, it turned one of many coldest occasions on the calendar, resulting in extraordinarily low grip ranges all through the weekend.
Carlos Sainz in contrast the 2023 Las Vegas GP circumstances to “driving on ice,” whereas Mercedes’ George Russell described it as “actually harmful” underneath the protection automotive. Charles Leclerc now anticipates that equally chilly temperatures might current new challenges for Ferrari on the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Preliminary climate predictions point out air temperatures might dip to round 41–42°F (5–5.5°C) throughout the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. The Monegasque driver, nonetheless, stays skeptical about Ferrari’s potential to deal with such chilly circumstances as successfully as they did through the 2023 Las Vegas GP. This concern arises regardless of the staff’s enhancements in tire administration, which can not translate as properly to the colder temperatures anticipated.
“I believe on paper it’s a observe the place we ought to be performing properly,” – the Monegasque driver defined in a latest interview for the Spanish media – “Nonetheless, the truth that we’ve improved quite a bit in tyre administration this yr most likely signifies that on a observe the place it’s so chilly, it’s going to be tough to get the tyres into the best temperature and within the excellent window. However, on paper, it nonetheless seems constructive – possibly not as constructive as final yr. However, nonetheless taking a look at how shut all the pieces is, I believe we’ll have an opportunity to win it.” – he identified.
Charles Leclerc’s considerations might open the door for Purple Bull to capitalize
The 2024 Formulation 1 season has delivered some of the aggressive campaigns in latest reminiscence, with Purple Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes all claiming Grand Prix victories. Amongst these, the constructors’ championship battle stays fierce, with Purple Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren separated by simply 49 factors.
If Charles Leclerc’s fears that Ferrari’s developments in tyre administration might backfire on the Las Vegas GP show correct, each McLaren and Purple Bull will likely be desperate to seize the chance. Purple Bull, specifically, will likely be eager to use any mistake to strengthen their place and defend their constructors’ title.
Heading to Las Vegas, Purple Bull will possible carry larger confidence than McLaren and, doubtlessly, Ferrari as properly. The staff has already demonstrated their prowess in Sin Metropolis, with Max Verstappen profitable the inaugural Las Vegas GP in 2023 and Sergio Perez securing third place. Their strategic edge allowed them to outmaneuver pole-sitter Charles Leclerc, leaving little question about their potential to thrive underneath related circumstances.