Ferrari approached the twenty second spherical of the Method 1 season with a single goal: to attempt to win. This was the outcome the Scuderia aimed to attain in an effort to maintain alive a dream: the Constructors’ Championship. Earlier than beginning, let’s check out the climate circumstances that the drivers encountered within the Las Vegas Grand Prix: air temperature at 18.3°C, monitor temperature at 19.7°C, very low humidity at 50%, and wind velocity of three.2 kilometers per hour blowing from the heavy south.
Now let’s take an in depth take a look at how occasions unfolded for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz within the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
All the pieces is prepared with about 5 minutes remaining earlier than the beginning process begins. The Scuderia’s engineers present the same old suggestions, including that the primary 13 vehicles have opted for Medium compounds. Perez, ranging from place 14, is on Laborious tires.
Right here we go, the engines roar to life, and the drivers head out for the same old set up lap. Already throughout this lap, carry and coast is requested from each vehicles to chill the engine. Moreover, appreciable effort is positioned on tire administration. The vehicles are on the beginning grid, ready just for the inexperienced mild. Leclerc will get off to a flying begin, overtakes Gasly and Sainz, and will get behind Russell. On lap 2, each Ferrari vehicles are instructed to make use of RB place 1 mode, a mapping that helps heat up the automobile’s rear axle by adjusting brake temperatures.
Tyre saving can be requested on lap 11. In these early phases, the Italian workforce is working to stabilize tire temperatures—an important transfer not just for efficiency but in addition for managing degradation. On lap 4, Leclerc makes an attempt to assault Russell, however the Brit defends effectively. Bryan Bozzi at this level reminds the workforce that tires should be managed, and speeding right into a battle wouldn’t be sensible. It’s higher to attend a number of extra laps and see what unfolds. Because of this, the Monegasque driver leaves a small hole to Russell.
In the meantime, behind Charles, Sainz retains management of the state of affairs, conscious that Verstappen is lurking behind him. On lap 7, the tires lastly seem to achieve their optimum working temperature. Ferrari decides to implement a method: Sainz, who has a greater tempo, is allowed to cross and chase Russell. Furthermore, observing Leclerc’s entrance tires, the everyday black marks from graining are seen. Leclerc struggles and is ultimately overtaken by Verstappen. All of the sudden, the Ferraris’ tires not carry out.
In consequence, automobile quantity 16 is named to the pits, switching to Laborious compounds. The next lap, Sainz can be compelled to cease, transferring to the white-banded Pirellis like his teammate. Again on monitor, the Ferrari vehicles are positioned in twelfth and thirteenth. The optimistic observe is that the McLarens are additionally struggling and, having stopped as effectively, stay behind. Each Ferraris discover themselves in visitors, together with Max Verstappen, who pits two laps later. Nevertheless, the Dutchman could be very expert.
The monitor engineers develop into more and more insistent on tire administration. Preserving them is essential. At this stage, it appears Carlos Sainz is already experiencing slight rear graining. Technique discussions revolve round selecting Plan A, whereas contemplating Plan C as a consequence of Sergio Perez, who began on Hards and is struggling along with his entrance tires. In the end, every thing is dependent upon the graining. Turns 6 and 10 are recognized as key areas of the monitor the place tire stress should be minimized. In the meantime, the 2 Ferraris overtake Perez and observe Verstappen, who’s in flip making an attempt to shut the hole to Russell.
Nobody anticipated such tire struggles. A state of affairs that has enormously benefited Mercedes, a automobile that suffers considerably much less in low temperatures. Third and fourth place for the Ferraris at this second. Nevertheless, remember that Lewis Hamilton, additionally driving a W15, has recovered numerous floor and is now behind Leclerc in fifth place. Plan A is confirmed, however the potential for switching to technique C stays in play. The race is at a stalemate on lap 21, with the highest 5 posting almost an identical lap instances.
Russell, nevertheless, has a cushion of about 9 seconds over his rivals, constructed up throughout the first stint because of Mercedes’ superior tire administration. In the meantime, the goal lap time is about at 37.5 seconds. This common permits the 2 Ferraris to take care of their delta with the highest two with out over-stressing the tires. The race has turned out to be more difficult for the Italian vehicles than anticipated, that a lot is evident. Nevertheless, the 2 McLarens are behind, and the race continues to be lengthy—28 laps stay earlier than the checkered flag.
Sainz studies graining on his entrance proper tire. The Spaniard is struggling greater than his teammate in the intervening time, though Charles is going through the identical concern. The aggressive context dictates a method change for Carlos, who switches to Plan C and is outwardly speculated to yield his place to the Monegasque. Nevertheless, the operation is simply too difficult as a result of Hamilton is true behind. Finally, Leclerc passes, and the Spaniard is named to the pits. Ferrari’s pit crew isn’t prepared, and Sainz has to do one other lap, throughout which he shouts and will get very upset.
Sainz adjustments tires on the next lap and, when he returns to the Las Vegas monitor, he loses his place to Hamilton, who had modified his tires the lap earlier than. A pricey error for Ferrari, which was caught unprepared. Verstappen additionally pits, whereas Leclerc extends his second stint, momentarily taking second place. Bozzi encourages the Monegasque and asks him in regards to the tires. Charles’ response is evident: “they’re crap.” Two laps later, automobile quantity 16 can be compelled to alter tires.
Again on monitor, the Ferrari driver finds himself behind his teammate. Bryan emphasizes the significance of managing the tires throughout the preliminary laps. The message is to keep away from pushing too arduous within the corners, which Leclerc reluctantly accepts. It couldn’t be in any other case, as the 2 SF-24s within the Las Vegas Grand Prix have by no means been capable of push and present their true tempo as a consequence of graining points. Verstappen isn’t far forward of the Ferraris, holding a lead of about 3 seconds. Nevertheless, the issue for Ferrari stays the identical, particularly they will’t push as a result of they must handle their tire compounds.
A wide range of dealing with strategies are tried. As an illustration, Sainz mentions utilizing much less steering angle to see if this strategy can scale back tire saturation and save the compounds. This measure seems to be considerably efficient. Max is struggling, and the Ferraris are closing in. The Italian pit wall requires warning, asking the drivers to assault the Dutchman with out inflicting any mishaps. The reigning F1 world champion is now beneath assault, however tire administration stays too essential for Ferrari at this stage.
The Maranello workforce asks the drivers to attend a number of extra laps earlier than trying something. On lap 42, Sainz makes a transfer and overtakes Max, taking third place, as his race engineer Riccardo Adami congratulates him however reminds him about tire administration. Charles Leclerc additionally needs to assault, however the reigning world champion has DRS on Carlos, which helps him defend. Tire degradation stays beneath management. At this level, with six laps remaining, there may be successfully a prepare with Verstappen sandwiched between the 2 Ferraris. Carlos is requested to extend his tempo and break away from Verstappen to push him out of DRS vary.
It appeared he may succeed, however the Dutchman doesn’t give in. The Spaniard offers it his all to make Charles’ assault simpler, and he lastly manages to realize a bonus of greater than a second. The Monegasque research automobile number one and, with three laps to go, launches his assault and overtakes Max Verstappen. Sainz takes third place, just about on the rostrum, with Leclerc in fourth. The 2 Mercedes vehicles are within the lead. Their total tempo was not superior to Ferrari’s, however their tire administration made them quicker.
Nothing important occurs throughout the closing corners. It’s a outcome that can’t fulfill Ferrari, which had hoped for victory and a double podium. Nonetheless, there’s a optimistic side, as Ferrari positive aspects worthwhile factors over McLaren within the Constructors’ Championship. The hole narrows from 36 factors to 24, maintaining the title hope alive. Talking of the Drivers’ Championship, Max Verstappen is topped F1 World Champion for the fourth time. Big congratulations to him, as he actually made a distinction within the 2024 Method 1 title battle with a automobile that didn’t assist him in addition to final season. Chapeau.
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