Dash qualifying in Qatar produced a end result that was not less than partially anticipated. McLaren led the pack with a snug margin, whereas Ferrari lagged behind. Nevertheless, there have been surprises: with the cooler night situations, Mercedes (particularly George Russell’s automobile) got here alive, securing a front-row begin alongside pole-sitter Lando Norris, with the British driver simply 63 thousandths behind, whereas Max Verstappen’s Purple Bull confirmed power solely in ultra-high-speed corners. No shock from Sergio Perez, who as soon as once more appears more and more absent. This implies an aerodynamic setup unable to deal with variations in move dynamics successfully. Let’s delve deeper into a few of the knowledge.
The primary development noticeable within the opening corners of the observe mirrors what was noticed in apply: McLaren is persistently quicker by means of the primary 4 corners, indicating tires that come to life instantly on the Woking staff’s automobile. The low high velocity additionally suggests a extremely aerodynamically loaded MCL38, with constant efficiency all through the lap as a result of glorious tire temperature management and an optimum steadiness, even on Losail’s assorted corners. These corners function totally different speeds however lengthy arcs, difficult a automobile’s aerodynamic steadiness as the middle of aerodynamic strain shifts. Such shifts could cause oversteer or understeer inside a single lap. Nevertheless, McLaren’s spectacular aerodynamic package deal, underneath Andrea Stella’s management, seems immune to those points, not less than by way of pure one-lap efficiency.
Conversely, the identical problem appears to hinder Max Verstappen’s Purple Bull, which excels, as anticipated, within the quickest corners however struggles considerably in medium and low-speed turns—the place essentially the most time is usually misplaced. This limitation may spell a difficult weekend for the newly topped four-time world champion, other than tire administration. In contrast to Purple Bull, Mercedes exhibited fluctuating efficiency however excelled notably in braking and mid-corner phases, particularly in corners 4 and 5, with minimal velocity loss in flat-out sections on the 5.419-kilometre Lusail Worldwide Circuit. The traction and acceleration knowledge additionally counsel a very high-strung Mercedes energy unit, a declare supported by George Russell’s feedback about being on the restrict within the quick third sector. Between corners 12 and 15, George Russell was the one driver to shift into eighth gear, demonstrating vital engine torque and fast battery consumption. This pressured him into recharge mode at Flip 15, costing him invaluable time and probably the pole place.
The explanations behind the SF-24’s drop in efficiency in comparison with the sturdy apply session are comparatively easy. A roughly 5-degree temperature drop since late afternoon altered the automobile’s aerodynamic steadiness. Whereas the rear finish and diffuser turned simpler, the entrance finish progressively misplaced grip, triggering understeer that the drivers couldn’t overcome. On a circuit with such nook sorts, this understeer severely compromised the automobile’s efficiency. It’s additionally probably that this impact compounded over the session, with the entrance sliding resulting in temperature mismanagement of the entrance tires. The frustration on the faces of Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, and staff principal Frederic Vasseur was comprehensible, because the SF-24 had exceeded expectations earlier within the day. Encountering such a persistent problem throughout qualifying was a bitter tablet for Ferrari’s camp.
Nonetheless, the SF-24 nonetheless confirmed promise, notably on medium and arduous compounds, leaving room for optimism within the Dash and primary race. Furthermore, from a 2025 improvement perspective, having a stable baseline stays a superb place to begin. Losail serves as a pure wind tunnel, testing automobiles underneath various yaw angles. The Dash will probably be notably revealing relating to tire administration and the way setups evolve for the primary qualifying and race. In the end, this observe highlights the unbelievable grip ranges and cornering speeds achieved by present Method 1 automobiles higher than most different circuits.
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