What a good looking Ferrari we’ve got seen these days. A System 1 staff that has slowly and progressively emerged from its technical deadlock, getting again on prime, as Flavio Briatore would say. Three wins within the final 5 races have actually not come by probability, and it may have been 4 if not for a misjudgment on the Baku Metropolis Circuit in Azerbaijan. And perhaps even 5 if the Maranello staff would have higher assessed tire activation throughout qualifying on the Singapore Grand Prix. Briefly, a Ferrari on the offensive. The aim for this third and closing spherical of the triple-header stays the identical.
Ferrari is aiming for victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix, with a robust need to maintain the dream of the Constructors’ Championship alive. A somewhat wasteful McLaren may nonetheless assist, because the staff led by Andrea Stella can be targeted on the drivers’ championship battle with Lando Norris, whereas Oscar Piastri, the Australian, has appeared nearly like a shadow of himself for the reason that Baku weekend. Repeating success in System 1 isn’t simple, particularly with very decided rivals. Nonetheless, the historic Italian staff is exhibiting nice dedication, and the worry of profitable appears to have left the staff. 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 observe for System 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 be well-known for its unpredictable climate, usually forcing groups to adapt the setup of the automobile. For Ferrari, at present in a really constructive interval, this occasion represents one other probability to place the SF-24 to the take a look at on a observe that rewards each prime pace and traction within the extra sluggish sections.
The Prancing Horse arrives in Brazil with a robust, well-balanced aerodynamic package deal, due to an working window broad sufficient to adapt to completely different layouts on this 2024 System 1 calendar. After latest races, the Maranello staff appears capable of finding steadiness on every observe, minimizing the weaknesses of its automobile whereas totally exploiting its strengths. Because of this, in contrast to in different System 1 seasons, tracks with completely different traits now not characterize an insurmountable impediment.
For that reason, Ferrari’s confidence in its capabilities may be very excessive in the mean time. Final yr, the staff selected a setup that favored prime pace, with the intention to acquire time within the quicker sections, particularly on the principle straight and the part resulting in turns 4 and 5. This yr, following final season’s pattern, the crimson automobile will purpose to optimize prime pace, because it did in Mexico, the place between Friday and Saturday they decreased aerodynamic load from the Monaco specification, shifting 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 staff will go for an strategy much like final Sunday’s, specializing in a extra versatile specification appropriate for blended circuits. In 2023, it’s value recalling that Ferrari struggled in sluggish corners, significantly on the first chicane, at turns 4 and 5, attributable to an endemic lack of vertical load. Reducing the trip heights had yielded good outcomes by way of qualifying efficiency, however this selection finally compromised general 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 staff’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 nearly a tenth and a half, which it then recovered with pace 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 staff depends on the driving force’s sensitivity to handle the automobile’s rear, prioritizing prime pace. This selection 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 will 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, varied sections place stress on the rear axle in traction, the place micro-slips have to be averted to ease tire administration. Ferrari begins off the Sao Paulo weekend assured, satisfied that it might combat for victory in Brazil.
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