We choose up proper the place we left off. Friday’s free apply in Saudi Arabia as soon as once more painted the identical image seen in latest occasions of this early season, with McLaren main the way in which and able to intimidate its rivals. A now customary papaya one-two, however one which highlights a number of fascinating factors, beginning with the rear wing alternative.
In Jeddah, the Woking workforce confirmed up with a lower-downforce rear wing in comparison with earlier Grands Prix. It’s not solely new, as this setup had already been examined throughout pre-season testing in Bahrain and in FP1 in Australia, though in each instances they reverted to a medium-downforce configuration.
On a circuit like Jeddah, it’s important to strike the best steadiness between the downforce wanted to be aggressive within the first sector and prime speeds to take full benefit of the lengthy straights within the second and third sectors. The grip offered by Jeddah’s asphalt—among the many greatest on the calendar—allowed groups to go for decrease rear downforce, as additionally seen in Suzuka.
This context helps clarify why McLaren adopted the trail already taken by different groups, lowering rear downforce in quest of higher straight-line efficiency. Whereas it’s nonetheless unclear how rather more McLaren has up its sleeve when it comes to engine maps, a part of the hole remains to be seen, particularly in comparison with Ferrari and Purple Bull.
Nevertheless, one necessary issue should be thought-about: as confirmed by Helmut Marko, Purple Bull ran barely extra aggressive engine settings in Saudi Arabia than traditional, which implies the RB21’s efficiency on the straights is already near what we are able to anticipate in qualifying.
To provide a benchmark, on the 2 straights of the second and third sectors, the MCL39 has a velocity deficit to Purple Bull of between 5 and seven km/h. In comparison with Ferrari—which lowered its DRS flap—the hole narrows to round 4 km/h. It’s price noting that in FP2, Charles Leclerc additionally eliminated the beam wing, switching to a model with a single component, whereas maintaining the trimmed DRS flap.
So if McLaren is shedding time on the straights, it’s truthful to ask the place it’s making the distinction and the way it managed to complete the lap practically three tenths forward. The key lies within the first sector. Norris, operating on Friday with out upgrades, was very aggressive and efficient into Flip 1, carrying plenty of velocity into Flip 2 due to late braking.
The important thing issue is how Norris manages to take care of such excessive entry velocity with out compromising the transition into Flip 2. That’s the place he builds a part of his benefit—even over his teammate, who was suggested to attempt a extra aggressive strategy into Flip 1 by braking later.
Norris’s efficiency on this section additionally highlights one other issue: the superb work finished by McLaren engineers to cut back mid-corner understeer in slower sections. This enchancment has helped mitigate one of many automobile’s former weaknesses and allowed it to attain a greater steadiness between high-speed and low-speed areas—now one of many MCL39’s greatest qualities.
On this part, Purple Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes all lose a number of tenths, a spot that widens over the remainder of the lap. It’s price noting that Charles Leclerc set his greatest time on his third try, having aborted two laps resulting from site visitors. But even on contemporary tires, he struggled in that sector. Additionally, Lando Norris’s time got here on a used set, which isn’t stunning since Jeddah has at all times been a low-degradation monitor.
Trying additional again, Oscar Piastri made up time later within the first sector, particularly in Flip 4, the place he was rather more aggressive each on entry and exit, with much less throttle modulation. Apparently, Norris had matched his teammate within the first run, suggesting that if he had nailed every thing, the hole might have been even larger.
Total, Flip 4 is a powerful level for the MCL39, particularly mid-corner, the place understeer can turn out to be essential. That is mirrored in the truth that even with a less-than-perfect exit, Norris nonetheless gained floor on Ferrari and Purple Bull. A big a part of McLaren’s benefit is constructed between the primary chicane and Flip 4.
Issues shift within the following sequence of corners—7, 8, 9, and 10—the place Purple Bull catches up, which isn’t any shock. In these high-downforce corners, which require robust stability and aerodynamic help, the vehicles from Milton Keynes, with their stiff setup, have at all times excelled. What’s stunning is the competitiveness of the SF-25, the quickest of the highest groups in Flip 9.
Within the season’s opening rounds, Ferrari already confirmed enchancment in quicker sections, though each Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have been additionally lifting barely in that nook. Nonetheless, seeing Ferrari so aggressive there may be actually a constructive signal.
McLaren regains floor in areas like Flip 4, the place entry is essential and adopted by fast path modifications, as within the quick chicanes of Turns 16 and 17, the place it good points 7 km/h over the competitors, and in Turns 22 and 23, the place the delta is smaller however nonetheless current.
What’s sure is that, as seen elsewhere, McLaren confirmed itself as the highest workforce. As anticipated, it makes the distinction in additional technical sections, the place front-end grip and total steadiness matter most, whereas nonetheless trailing on the straights. Ferrari—significantly with Charles Leclerc—appears to have recognized the path to pursue for the remainder of the weekend.
For Purple Bull, this was their greatest Friday of the season to this point—an necessary basis, since with an already strong setup, they will now deal with refining numerous elements fairly than overhauling the automobile. Mercedes, however, stays a query mark: it was extra aggressive in FP1 than in FP2, the place—resulting from site visitors and problem activating the delicate tires in cooler monitor circumstances, particularly for Antonelli—it couldn’t discover the best components to maximise the W16.
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