Ferrari believed till the final nook of the ultimate lap of the 2024 System Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Constructors’ Championship stays a prestigious title, and even with slim probabilities, when there was nothing to lose, the aim was to offer it every thing. This was the mindset of the historic Italian staff. Because the sundown offers method to evening, let’s check out the environmental situations of this closing aggressive setting of the season: air temperature at 27.4°C, observe temperature at 33.6°C, common humidity at 45%, and wind blowing from the east at 2.4 km/h.
With Leclerc, varied methods had been doable. The choice to put in a brand new inside combustion engine was dismissed, as ranging from the pit lane wouldn’t permit the Monegasque to get well positions firstly. Each Ferraris are on the beginning grid, awaiting the two-minute sign to start the procedures resulting in the formation lap. Sainz is about to begin on yellow-banded tires, as is Charles, who will purpose to maximise efficiency within the early laps.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are knowledgeable that the remainder of the drivers, besides Hamilton, are additionally beginning on yellow-banded tires. Hamilton opts for the Laborious compound to increase his first stint as a lot as doable. The formation lap begins, with Carlos instantly pushing, whereas Charles waits for the pack to maneuver earlier than warming his tires successfully, catching up with the group in Sector 3. Two burnouts for the Spaniard, one for the opposite Ferrari driver. Inexperienced lights, and the ultimate race of the season begins.
Sainz will get an excellent begin, taking second place, however the true magic comes from Leclerc, who finds himself in eighth by Sector 3. On lap 2, the Digital Security Automotive is deployed as a consequence of particles on the observe from a collision between Verstappen and Piastri, who’s now in the back of the sector. That is excellent news for Ferrari, because it raises their possibilities of battling McLaren. Leclerc is very motivated, expressing it on the radio, with Bozzi acknowledging however urging him to maintain his enthusiasm in test and concentrate on tire administration within the early laps.
The Digital Security Automotive interval ends, and the race resumes. Sainz creates far from Norris, who leads the race and can also be managing his tires. Leclerc is behind Magnussen and overtakes him on lap 6 at Flip 5, setting his sights on Alonso. On this preliminary section, preserving the tires is important. The Ferrari storage reviews that the tire situation is sweet, aligning with expectations. Norris is displaying spectacular tempo, forcing the Spanish Ferrari driver to do every thing doable to maintain up.
Leclerc overtakes Alonso and closes in on Hulkenberg in sixth place. In the meantime, Piastri, in seventeenth, is working to regain positions. Bryan reminds Charles Leclerc of the significance of adhering to trace limits, as exceeding them too usually can lead to penalties. Verstappen has already acquired a penalty for his contact with Piastri at Flip 1. On lap 12, Leclerc overtakes Hulkenberg and claims fifth place. Sainz is pushing onerous however admits on the radio that Norris could be very quick.
The Ferrari drivers are knowledgeable that the efficiency on Laborious tires is poor—not just for Hamilton, who began on them, but additionally for Piastri, who switched to them after his contact with Verstappen. Ferrari’s subsequent problem is George Russell, a formidable opponent, although he’s anticipated to have much less tempo than Leclerc’s automotive. Bozzi checks in with Leclerc about Plan C, however the Monegasque dismisses it, unimpressed. In the meantime, Norris reviews that his tires are beginning to wrestle.
In all of this, tire administration continues to obviously restrict efficiency. Bryan additionally advises towards utilizing second gear on the curb of Flip 2—a precaution to keep away from reliability points with the transmission. Leclerc is now closing in on Russell, whereas Carlos continues to lose floor to Norris, who’s now 4 seconds forward. The Mercedes could be very quick on the straights, and making an attempt an overtaking transfer gained’t be straightforward. Lando retains complaining about his entrance finish not being proper however stays sooner than the Ferrari driver.
Lap 19: Ferrari tries to trick the Brackley staff with a pretend pit name to try an undercut, however Mercedes doesn’t fall for it. Leclerc is rising pissed off as he’s dropping valuable race time behind the W15 quantity 63. Consequently, he’s introduced into the pits for actual to change to the Laborious tires. The Monegasque rejoins the observe in eighth, behind Gasly. It is going to take about 5 laps for the tires to stabilize. Within the meantime, he should handle them whereas creating sufficient of a niche to remain forward of Russell after the Briton’s pit cease. For now, George doesn’t react to Ferrari’s tire change.
Charles overtakes Gasly and units off after Hamilton, his future Ferrari teammate. In the meantime, Sainz is gaining on Lando, who’s struggling along with his tires. By lap 26, Carlos additionally pits, switching to white-banded Pirellis. He rejoins in third, forward of Verstappen. Plan C is talked about for each Ferrari vehicles, which suggests managing the tires as a lot as doable, as additional pit stops are unlikely. Piastri is recovering and is already in tenth.
Russell additionally pits and finally ends up about 3 seconds behind Leclerc. The undercut labored. With the tire change, Sainz halves his hole to Norris, now simply over 2 seconds forward of the Spaniard. For Ferrari to have any hope, each vehicles want to complete forward of Lando; in any other case, McLaren will safe the championship. Carlos is urged to push to catch the Briton. By lap 33, the instruction involves push more durable with automotive 55 to shut the hole.
Bozzi radios once more: “Don’t use second gear in Flip 2.” In the meantime, Piastri serves his penalty within the pits for the collision with Franco Colapinto and rejoins the race in fifteenth. Hamilton is now being hunted by Leclerc, who is nearly in DRS vary. Nevertheless, the Englishman pits earlier than any duel happens. The 2 Ferraris at the moment are second and third, however Leclerc is about 20 seconds behind his teammate. Adami congratulates the Spaniard for his efforts, noting he loses a tenth to Norris in Flip 9, simply as in qualifying.
Radio communication is frequent. Bryan asks Charles to enhance his efficiency in Turns 6 and seven, the place he’s dropping about 0.15 seconds to the leaders. The Spaniard is giving it his all, managing his tires properly, and attempting to maintain the battle alive with Lando, who stays first and now 3 seconds forward. The McLaren driver has a slight efficiency edge and is making no errors. With out his assist, Ferrari’s Constructors’ Championship dream fades away.
The race progresses. By lap 42, Lando has elevated his result in almost 5 seconds. With 16 laps to go, it appears there’s little Ferrari can do. The McLaren’s tempo is superior, and with out technical points, the Woking staff is poised to win the Constructors’ Championship. Charles asks for the present standings to see if the factors are sufficient to surpass their rivals. Bozzi tells him no however urges him to maintain pushing as something can nonetheless occur.
The engineers present all doable help to enhance tempo, however up entrance, the Briton is pulling away, now over 5 seconds forward of Carlos. Within the closing 5 laps, the 2 Ferraris give it their all however are already resigned to a defeat that weighs closely. Moreover, it appears one thing underneath Sainz’s automotive is slowing him down. Certainly, the hole grows additional, with Sainz dropping to 7.5 seconds behind. Charles inquires in regards to the state of affairs up entrance, and Bozzi responds, however the Monegasque doesn’t take it properly.
He asks if any on-track battles may assist their trigger however is advised no. Annoyed, he displays on the deficit and the race he’s pushed. A greater qualifying session and no penalties had been wanted to do higher. Charles’ restoration drive was glorious, however at present, McLaren’s quantity 4 left no room for escape. The checkered flag waves: Sainz says he gave it his all. Fred Vasseur compliments him, and Adami acknowledges his professionalism over the previous 4 years, saying it was an honor.
Carlos chuckles, happy, singing “Clean Operator” and shouting, “Forza Ferrari, all the time.” In the meantime, the tone on Leclerc’s radio is vastly completely different. Charles is nearly in tears, hitting his helmet in frustration. He thanks the staff for his or her work and even Sainz, wishing him the very best for his profession. Bozzi thanks him, acknowledging there was nothing extra he may have performed at present. For the document, Oscar Piastri finishes tenth, including one other level to McLaren’s 2024 tally.
Ferrari didn’t lose the Constructors’ Championship at present. They misplaced it through the midseason races once they successfully threw away six races, as a consequence of to the ground replace launched on the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain, which disrupted the Italian automotive’s steadiness. That is one thing the Maranello staff should mirror on. With out that difficulty, they might have fought for each titles—sure, even the Drivers’ Championship. Let this function a lesson for subsequent 12 months, the place Ferrari should compete with out making such errors.
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