Scuderia Ferrari didn’t disappear from the ultimate free observe session for the Singapore Grand Prix. The changes made to the F1 automotive resulted in a brilliant balanced chassis. What didn’t work was the warm-up of the tires. An incorrect warm-up cycle that, after all, considerably decreased the grip of the SF-24 with working temperatures removed from the proper values. It’s onerous to find out if the tweaks to the setup of the automotive one way or the other contributed to the state of affairs noticed within the final observe session. Solely these immediately concerned know. A method or one other, nevertheless, there may be time to get well and current themselves in the absolute best means for qualifying.
This isn’t the primary time that the Prancing Horse has suffered from such issues. Everybody will certainly keep in mind the weekend in Canada. Or, with out going too far again, let’s consider the Belgian Grand Prix the place, till Q2, automotive quantity 16 struggled to make the reduce. Then, within the last a part of the session, Charles Leclerc nailed the warm-up and, like magic, the efficiency elevated sufficient to even safe pole place. It stays to be seen how this example shall be managed by the Italian workforce. It’s definitely not a easy context, nevertheless it doesn’t robotically condemn the Maranello workforce.
Singapore is an atypical observe. A road circuit the place it isn’t simple to completely nail all the small print. Furthermore, the significance of the beginning grid is essential, as those that begin on the entrance have wonderful probabilities of profitable contemplating the issue of overtaking. Ferrari is aware of this, and for that reason, they need to do every part to compete on equal phrases with McLaren. Failing to take action could be a serious disappointment, as technically the SF-24 in Singapore configuration has proven the potential to win. All that’s left is to attend for occasions and see what occurs.
Now let’s take an in depth take a look at how occasions unfolded for the 2 Ferrari SF-24 vehicles in qualifying on the 4.94-kilometre Marina Bay Avenue Circuit:
All the things is prepared for the beginning of the qualifying session. Contained in the Ferrari storage, there’s a sure chatter centered on the ultimate particulars. First, let’s check out the climate situations on the evening of Singapore: 29.5°C air temperature, 32.2°C observe floor temperature. Humidity at 80%, wind pace of 1.1 km/h blowing from the south. The flag is inexperienced, the Ferrari drivers are of their vehicles able to hit the observe. The sign comes, the engines begin, and off they go for this primary outing on the Malaysian asphalt. For this run, the 2 crimson vehicles are fitted with a set of red-marked tires.
We’re speaking in regards to the tire that precipitated vital difficulties for the Prancing Horse within the final a part of FP3. Subsequently, it is going to be fascinating to see if the workforce has instantly understood how one can handle this issue. Within the outlap, the rear brakes are used quite a bit to heat up the again finish. The nice and cozy-up should be carried out correctly. Charles Leclerc speaks on the radio and addresses this facet, stating that the tires had been too chilly in FP3. Bozzi suggests braking onerous throughout the preparation lap. Then they swap to push mode, let’s see what occurs.
Charles Leclerc completes a really clear lap earlier than shifting on to a double settle down lap. Carlos Sainz, alternatively, makes a mistake at flip 1 and prefers to elevate off to retry the nook afterward. The Spaniard additionally places collectively lap. Each Ferrari drivers lose fairly a little bit of time in S1. Plainly flip 7 is a degree the place the crimson vehicles wrestle probably the most. In the course of the second try, Charles makes a mistake within the second sector, which clearly slows him down. He’s additionally not excellent within the third sector. Nonetheless, he improves his time. It’s a disgrace in regards to the errors as a result of the efficiency was robust.
Charles Leclerc decides and asks to handle the steadiness of the automotive at flip 13, adjusting the brake stability. A transfer agreed upon by the workforce. As for the Spaniard, he registers a not wonderful lap that however mirrors the earlier one. For now, not less than, it appears that evidently the tire downside has not offered itself. In that case, it could be a terrific reduction for the Maranello workforce. The 2 SF-24s return to the storage, ready to see if the time checks are enough to make the reduce. Apparently not, as each crimson vehicles return to the observe.
Once more, new red-marked Pirelli tires. There may be some site visitors within the pit lane, however after just a few seconds, the Ferrari drivers can return to the Marina Bay observe floor. They proceed with the identical warm-up used beforehand, extra aggressive than that noticed in observe. A single try the place the “two Carlos” go the reduce. Nevertheless, whereas Charles can abort, the Spaniard is compelled to complete the lap the place he makes a mistake at flip 13 that prices him not less than three-tenths. Good indicators up to now, however the precise tempo of the SF-24 in qualifying remains to be unclear.
A quick pause and again to pushing. Apparently, with the present observe situations, overheating appears to be beneath management. To do that, they need to handle a sure oversteering tendency that the crimson automotive has proven up to now in qualifying. Q2 will undoubtedly present extra concrete suggestions on this regard. In the course of the outlap, they proceed extra slowly than earlier than. Plainly the upper asphalt temperature might assist to hit the proper tire utilization window. Push mode within the final nook and off for the primary try.
For this primary run, the workforce selected to mount used Smooth compound tires on each vehicles. Charles Leclerc, with the scrubbed tires, managed to put himself between the 2 McLarens. A very good tempo for the Monegasque who, regardless of making just a few errors, nonetheless managed to extract good efficiency from the SF-24. The Madrilenian struggled extra, exhibiting much less confidence together with his automotive in comparison with his teammate. They returned to the storage the place an adjustment was made to the entrance wing of automotive quantity 55: “level 1 up.” No modifications had been made for Charles. Contained in the storage, the Ferrari workforce rigorously studied the telemetry. A really helpful transfer to know the factors on the observe the place they may improve efficiency for the following run. The mechanics fitted a brand new set of red-marked Pirelli tires on each vehicles, which left the pit lane a couple of minutes later. The same old routine for warming up the tires didn’t appear to trigger too many issues for the historic Italian workforce at this stage of qualifying. Carlos Sainz wanted to enhance as a result of it was famous that he hadn’t been capable of absolutely exploit the potential of his automotive up to now.
Each drivers began their laps after participating push mode, in a efficiency state of affairs that shouldn’t face specific obstacles from site visitors. Charles put collectively an excellent lap, with only one mistake in T3, shedding a tenth in that occasion. He positioned himself behind Verstappen, taking third place only a tenth behind chief Norris. Sainz fared worse, shedding virtually half a second. Plainly qualifying shall be very tight till the tip, with a number of groups preventing for the highest spots till the final second.
The time to get severe has arrived. It stays to be seen who nonetheless has one thing in reserve, able to unleash most efficiency. The percentages favor Lando Norris, who has been the quickest since FP3. The Brit is benefiting from his MCL38, an entire and actually aggressive automotive on this observe. After yet one more transient cease within the storage, the engines of the crimson vehicles roar again to life. It’s time to present every part they’ve. The 2 Ferraris go away the pit field. They’re nonetheless on Smooth tires, this time with a brand new set.
Focus is at its peak, for sure. The observe floor temperature has risen by two levels in comparison with the start of qualifying. The Ferrari workforce is engaged within the outlap, which is kind of fast this time. Charles Leclerc encounters site visitors and prefers to decelerate a bit earlier than accelerating once more in S3. Simply because the Monegasque had cleared flip 3, he needed to decelerate as a result of his teammate misplaced management of the rear finish at flip 18. The Spaniard crashed into the limitations, damaging the rear of his SF-24. Fairly a multitude.
On the radio, he’s knowledgeable that his tires had been nonetheless too chilly. It’s an actual disgrace as a result of the Spaniard should begin from tenth place. It stays to be seen the extent of the harm and whether or not it is going to be crucial to alter the transmission of SF-24 quantity 55. It takes a while to take away automotive quantity 55 from the observe and permit the stewards to wash up the particles and repair the limitations. We’re speaking about about quarter-hour of crimson flag. As soon as every part is cleared, the one Ferrari returns to the observe, now on new Smooth tires.
With solely 3 minutes remaining, there may be simply sufficient time to set a time. All the things is on the road for this “one shot,” because the English say. The Monegasque’s outlap follows the identical sample because the earlier ones. Leclerc makes house to attempt to cross the road with the tires as heat as doable. A sure nervousness is noticeable on the radio, as the strain is actually excessive. Charles units off for his lap however overcooks it, carrying an excessive amount of pace into flip 1. This implies his time is canceled, and he has to accept ninth place. A tricky blow for the Ferrari workforce, which utterly squandered qualifying.
On the return lap, the Ferrari driver may be very offended. He opens up on the radio and vents as finest he can. Charles Leclerc talks about an adjustment urged by the pit wall earlier than his final try that difficult issues. It apparently isn’t a tire-related issue. Because of this, he seeks clarification, as he believes the entrance finish of his SF-24 didn’t work because it ought to have. Bryan Bozzi tries to calm him down and, disheartened, admits he doesn’t have a solution at that second. That is the account of a session that clearly couldn’t have gone worse.
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