Charles Leclerc fell sufferer to an incident brought on by Alexander Albon within the first free apply session for the Mexico Metropolis GP final weekend: the Williams automotive hit the SF-24 assigned to Ferrari Driver Academy member Ollie Bearman inside minutes, leaving the Monegasque with out the required knowledge to fine-tune his Ferrari at a race closely affected by the skinny air at 2,240 meters on the Mexican plateau.
The primary hour was devoted by the Maranello crew to evaluating some vital facets, such because the distribution of hybrid vitality over a lap, energy unit cooling, brake cooling, and turbo optimization, subjected to uncommon and repeated pressure. These might appear to be particulars from the surface, however in the case of fine-tuning on an atypical circuit, each small aspect impacts the consequence. Add to this the truth that the second free apply session for the Mexican Grand Prix was conditioned by a compulsory Pirelli tire check for the 2025 prototype, and it’s clear that Charles Leclerc confronted setups that didn’t add up on the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico Metropolis.
Furthermore, Charles Leclerc doesn’t favor vehicles with an understeering tendency, preferring to brake nearly as much as the apex with a rear finish that helps with cornering. Mexico Metropolis, nevertheless, is a observe that, resulting from its traits, favors a driving type suited to dealing with understeer, with Carlos Sainz clearly demonstrating this. The Spaniard took pole place and received the race with undisputed superiority.
It’s a part of the sport, however there’s some remorse that, maybe, the Monegasque may have accomplished a one-two end for the Italian aspect in Mexico Metropolis, replicating the success in america Grand Prix on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin the place he took the victory. All of this to say that Ferrari is expressing its most technical potential, competing on par with McLaren, which is rightly thought-about the common automotive adaptable to any observe.
The occasions on the American continent usually are not but over: the System 1 calendar presents us with a triple-header and the Brazilian Grand Prix is scheduled to happen subsequent weekend. Interlagos is one other high-altitude venue, though São Paulo’s 700 meters is hardly similar to Mexico’s 2,240 meters (with a 17% air density discount in comparison with 30% final Sunday). Max Verstappen should resort to his fifth engine to finish the 2024 System 1 championship, whereas Ferrari has not, no less than for now, deliberate any replacements when it comes to energy unit parts, despite the fact that the inner combustion engine endures extreme pressure with 70% of the lap at full throttle.
In Brazil, Ferrari goals to proceed its optimistic streak, which has introduced it to simply 29 factors behind McLaren, who leads the Constructors’ Championship. Simulations for Interlagos carried out again residence in Maranello counsel that the observe needs to be favorable for the SF-24 single-seater, which, because of the extra versatile wing launched in Austin, appears to have achieved enviable stability.
On the Interlagos circuit, we’ll see a automotive with out main technical upgrades, as the ultimate ones are more likely to seem in Qatar, however with changes to the pink automotive suited to a observe requiring medium aerodynamic load.
The Italian aspect has discovered good race stability, even supposing they should search higher efficiency from the mushy compound tires within the qualifying session (with Pirelli choosing the C2, C3, and C4 compounds at São Paulo). And right here lie Ferrari’s doubts: the Brazilian circuit has undergone resurfacing work.
In a weekend that includes the Dash Race format, the only free apply session can be essential for understanding the traits of the brand new floor with unknown grip. The Maranello crew often completes its homework properly, and in races with the Dash format, the Ferrari engineers and technicians handle to place a well-prepared automotive on observe. Nevertheless, at Interlagos, will probably be important to not lose a minute on observe to adapt their parameters to the brand new observe floor.
It’s due to this fact price declaring that this unknown issue may break all simulations together with temperature modifications. The SF-24 automotive prefers hotter circumstances, whereas the climate forecast, which is extremely changeable on this space, may shortly alter situations, as rain is forecasted for Sunday’s race.
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