Qatar GP 2024, race technique – After securing pole place at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, George Russell as soon as once more begins on the entrance of the grid. In actuality, the quickest time was set by Max Verstappen, however a penalty promoted Mercedes’ W15 automotive quantity 63, confirming the workforce’s robust kind seen in america. Within the second row, the 2 McLaren drivers are positioned, sensing that the Constructors’ Championship is changing into extra inside attain, partly as a result of Ferrari not being at their finest however nonetheless hoping to get better with race tempo proven through the Dash Race.
The end result of the race is unsure, contemplating each the qualifying outcomes and, extra importantly, the Dash Race, which ended with a McLaren one-two end (Piastri forward of Norris, editor’s observe). Nevertheless, they had been unable to ascertain a major hole over the competitors, which stayed shut all through the race. Given this, and the difficult tire administration on a monitor that locations numerous stress on the compounds, the race is anticipated to be unpredictable in its last end result.
Earlier than diving into the small print of strategic predictions, let’s check out the tire selections made by Pirelli for the twenty third spherical of the 2024 World Championship. Not like Las Vegas, the place the softer compounds had been launched, Pirelli has introduced the toughest tires of their vary: C1 exhausting, C2 medium, and C3 delicate. Let’s instantly take a look at the tire units out there to the drivers.
Qatar GP 2024 – Technique: Single Cease Anticipated to Be Helpful
It ought to be famous that predicting workforce methods this 12 months has been notably tough. Tires have usually been a puzzle, resulting in ways that diverged from what was anticipated on paper.
For the Losail Grand Prix, it is very important contemplate the resurfacing of the curbs, that are decrease than final 12 months when many tire points arose as a result of sharp edges of the curbs positioned on the exterior of the corners, resulting in tires getting minimize. This prompted a multi-stop technique final 12 months.
This 12 months, the problem has been resolved, and Pirelli’s engineers count on that the most effective tactic shall be a single cease, beginning with the medium tire, which ought to final between 19 and 25 laps, adopted by a change to the exhausting tire to complete the race.
Other than the curbs, Pirelli’s chief engineer Simone Berra highlighted that the general grip degree this 12 months is increased than final 12 months, stopping lateral sliding and untimely tire put on. The anticipated graining was lower than anticipated. This, mixed with decrease degradation, suggests {that a} single-stop technique would be the most advantageous.
After all, there may be little knowledge on the exhausting tire, a compound not used through the Dash Race and solely seen briefly throughout Friday’s sole observe session. The efficiency of this compound would be the deciding issue: if it performs properly, a single cease shall be viable; in any other case, different methods similar to a two-stop plan with two exhausting tire stints after an preliminary medium stint could also be used.
There may be little expectation of using the delicate C3 tire, a compound that may result in extreme put on and speedy efficiency degradation. Whereas a number of drivers have a number of units of this compound (Nico Hulkenberg, Franco Colapinto, and Esteban Ocon every have three out there), it’s unlikely that anybody will use it, particularly since overtaking at Losail is tough, and having to get better positions could be very disadvantageous.
The race shall be held below the climate circumstances noticed within the previous days, with temperatures not too excessive however winds that might trigger points, with gusts anticipated at as much as 40 kilometers per hour. The drivers might want to handle these circumstances, particularly via medium- to high-speed corners.
Moreover, the wind tends to convey desert sand onto the monitor, which doesn’t assist preserve ultimate asphalt circumstances. This presents one other small problem, a further variable to contemplate within the tough equation that’s the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix.
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