Within the twenty second qualifying session of the 2024 System 1 championship, Scuderia Ferrari continued the work with the delicate compound that started through the closing free observe session on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada with out making important setup modifications. 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 ground specification, with out the up to date edge particulars. From a dealing with perspective, there was a common extra of rotation, with stability shifting noticeably towards the rear at decrease speeds.
This attribute precipitated slight understeer on nook entry in sure areas, resembling Flip 7. Ferrari targeted extensively on tire preparation, which required appreciable work even throughout the qualifying session itself. The Maranello crew often communicated with the drivers by way of radio, suggesting strategies 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 precipitated it to drop under the goal vary.
This subject, notably on the tire tread, was carefully monitored, with the crew aiming to make the most of a level of understeer to warmth the tire floor. Finally, this influenced the technique for warm laps. The primary query was whether or not to incorporate a further preparation lap past the out-lap. In Q3, Ferrari opted to not carry out a preparation lap, in contrast to Crimson Bull, as we’ll see later. In the meantime, Mercedes obtained their tire warm-up technique spot on, thanks additionally to the traits of the W15 automotive in low temperature circumstances. By attaining higher stability, they managed to function their automotive throughout the optimum efficiency window.
This final result was one thing the Maranello crew had struggled with in current races. With monitor temperatures at 13.5°C and ambient temperatures round 12°C, unusually chilly circumstances for System 1, the W15 single-seater proved notably efficient. This automotive 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. Nevertheless, with a extra superior stability, they had been much less affected by understeer in low- and medium-speed sections.
Optimum tire administration allowed the Brackley crew to excel within the first sector, a serious weak point for Ferrari, which then needed to recuperate misplaced time within the the rest of the Las Vegas lap. This factors to a recurring subject with the SF-24 automotive, particularly inadequate entrance tire temperature firstly of the lap. George Russell gained considerably in Turns 2, 3, and 4, primarily attributable to better-prepared tires that supplied larger grip ranges. McLaren, however, struggled not solely within the preliminary a part of the circuit but in addition continued shedding time between Turns 5 and 9.
Solely in Flip 5 did it lose nearly two-tenths, shedding an equal quantity within the low-speed part between Turns 7 and 9. After this part, the hole remained just about fixed. In comparison with Ferrari, the primary limitation stays the straights, the place they’re unable to achieve on Mercedes. At low speeds, they might have extracted extra from the automotive and the Gentle tire. On nook entry, each MCL38 automobiles lacked important grip, shedding precious time. Lastly, Crimson Bull confronted important difficulties right here in Las Vegas.
Max Verstappen secured a fifth-place end, salvaging the end result, whereas Sergio Perez was as soon as once more eradicated in Q1. The work accomplished by the Austrian crew on the rear wing made headlines: the Crimson Bull engineers used a Dremel to chop the trailing fringe of the extra flap, additional decreasing the wing’s chord, realizing that the one ready for Las Vegas was not sufficiently low-drag. This modification improved the highest velocity however didn’t yield important advantages over the lap, particularly when it comes to traction. From this, we are able to draw a conclusion.
In proportion phrases, 50% of the difficulties might be attributed to setup, which didn’t absolutely 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, Crimson 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 up to now, even when the Milton Keynes crew was dominant.
Lastly, we check out the telemetry knowledge and if we observe the perfect instances of the primary groups, we see that the majority drivers set their finest lap in Q3 aside from Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time System 1 world champion and future Ferrari driver, actually, did not put collectively a clear lap attributable to his personal mistake. With out this error, his W15, quantity 44, might have reached third place, behind Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver was only one and a half-tenths behind, with all of it collected within the opening sector.
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