What a phenomenal Ferrari we’ve got seen these days. A Components 1 group that has slowly and progressively emerged from its technical deadlock, getting again on high, as Flavio Briatore would say. Three wins within the final 5 races have actually not come by likelihood, and it may have been 4 if not for a misjudgment on the Baku Metropolis Circuit in Azerbaijan. And possibly even 5 if the Maranello group would have higher assessed tire activation throughout qualifying on the Singapore Grand Prix. In brief, a Ferrari on the offensive. The aim for this third and remaining spherical of the triple-header stays the identical.
Ferrari is aiming for victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix, with a robust want to maintain the dream of the Constructors’ Championship alive. A fairly wasteful McLaren may nonetheless assist, because the group led by Andrea Stella can also be targeted on the drivers’ championship battle with Lando Norris, whereas Oscar Piastri, the Australian, has appeared virtually like a shadow of himself for the reason that Baku weekend. Repeating success in Components 1 is rarely straightforward, particularly with very decided rivals. Nevertheless, the historic Italian group is displaying nice dedication, and the concern of successful appears to have left the group. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are giving their all and elevating the Italian colours worldwide, as technical consciousness of its capabilities drives the SF-24 to new heights.
The 4.309-kilometre Interlagos circuit, formally often called Autódromo José Carlos Tempo, is a historic and extremely technical monitor for Components 1. It unfolds in a mixture of lengthy straights with technical sectors, significantly the second, the place tight turns and chicanes demand a excessive stage of driving precision. Interlagos can also be well-known for its unpredictable climate, usually forcing groups to adapt the setup of the automobile. For Ferrari, at the moment in a really optimistic interval, this occasion represents one other likelihood to place the SF-24 to the take a look at on a monitor that rewards each high velocity and traction within the extra gradual sections.
The Prancing Horse arrives in Brazil with a robust, well-balanced aerodynamic bundle, because of an working window extensive sufficient to adapt to completely different layouts on this 2024 Components 1 calendar. After latest races, the Maranello group appears capable of finding a great steadiness on every monitor, minimizing the weaknesses of its automobile whereas absolutely exploiting its strengths. Which means that, in contrast to in different Components 1 seasons, tracks with completely different traits not signify an insurmountable impediment.
Because of this, Ferrari’s confidence in its capabilities could be very excessive in the intervening time. Final yr, the group selected a setup that favored high velocity, with a purpose to achieve time within the quicker sections, particularly on the primary straight and the part resulting in turns 4 and 5. This yr, following final season’s development, the pink automobile will purpose to optimize high velocity, because it did in Mexico, the place between Friday and Saturday they lowered aerodynamic load from the Monaco specification, transferring to a medium-high setup first seen on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.
For the Brazilian Grand Prix, it’s anticipated that the Italian group will go for an strategy much like final Sunday’s, specializing in a extra versatile specification appropriate for blended circuits. In 2023, it’s price recalling that Ferrari struggled in gradual corners, significantly on the first chicane, at turns 4 and 5, as a consequence of an endemic lack of vertical load. Reducing the experience heights had yielded good outcomes when it comes to qualifying efficiency, however this alternative finally compromised total efficiency over the 300-kilometer race distance. This yr, nonetheless, the SF-24 automobile has proven higher steadiness at low speeds, in addition to agility on the curbs, that are additionally much less pronounced in Interlagos than in Mexico.
On the identical time, Ferrari has to give attention to the optimum tire administration throughout the race. The Maranello group’s technicians and engineers have labored to construct a compromise favoring the slower sections, even when this implies sacrificing some efficiency in excessive downforce corners, like flip 12, the place in 2023 the Ferrari misplaced virtually a tenth and a half, which it then recovered with velocity within the high-speed part resulting in the end line. In quick corners, the SF-24 will search a compromise with suspension stiffness. The purpose is to handle aerodynamic load for the race, the place common speeds in quick sections lower together with the required downforce.
In qualifying, the Italian F1 group depends on the motive force’s sensitivity to handle the automobile’s rear, prioritizing high velocity. This alternative goals to create a automobile efficient over lengthy runs and suited to tire preservation throughout the race. Interlagos is especially demanding on tire compounds, characterised by excessive degradation, a scenario that in 2023 compelled drivers to handle the compounds all through the race and considerably restrict efficiency. This yr, Ferrari goals to keep away from such problematic administration.
This may even be achieved with higher management over floor and carcass temperature. The SF-24 has proven enchancment on this space, mixed with a setup designed to maintain the tires in an optimum temperature window and keep away from compromising race tempo as final yr. Within the second sector, numerous sections place stress on the rear axle in traction, the place micro-slips have to be prevented to ease tire administration. Ferrari begins off the Sao Paulo weekend assured, satisfied that it could actually battle for victory in Brazil.
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