What a stupendous Ferrari we now have seen these days. A Formulation 1 crew that has slowly and progressively emerged from its technical deadlock, getting again on high, as Flavio Briatore would say. Three wins within the final 5 races have definitely not come by probability, and it may have been 4 if not for a misjudgment on the Baku Metropolis Circuit in Azerbaijan. And possibly even 5 if the Maranello crew 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 powerful need to maintain the dream of the Constructors’ Championship alive. A fairly wasteful McLaren may nonetheless assist, because the crew led by Andrea Stella can also be centered on the drivers’ championship battle with Lando Norris, whereas Oscar Piastri, the Australian, has appeared virtually like a shadow of himself for the reason that Baku weekend. Repeating success in Formulation 1 is rarely simple, particularly with very decided rivals. Nonetheless, the historic Italian crew is displaying nice dedication, and the worry of profitable appears to have left the crew. 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 generally known as Autódromo José Carlos Tempo, is a historic and extremely technical monitor for Formulation 1. It unfolds in a mixture of lengthy straights with technical sectors, notably the second, the place tight turns and chicanes demand a excessive stage of driving precision. Interlagos can also be well-known for its unpredictable climate, typically forcing groups to adapt the setup of the automobile. For Ferrari, at present in a really optimistic interval, this occasion represents one other probability to place the SF-24 to the take a look at on a monitor that rewards each high velocity and traction within the extra sluggish sections.
The Prancing Horse arrives in Brazil with a powerful, well-balanced aerodynamic package deal, because of an working window huge sufficient to adapt to totally different layouts on this 2024 Formulation 1 calendar. After current races, the Maranello crew appears capable of finding an excellent steadiness on every monitor, minimizing the weaknesses of its automobile whereas absolutely exploiting its strengths. Which means that, in contrast to in different Formulation 1 seasons, tracks with totally different traits now not characterize an insurmountable impediment.
For that reason, Ferrari’s confidence in its capabilities may be very excessive in the intervening time. Final 12 months, the crew selected a setup that favored high velocity, with a purpose to achieve time within the sooner sections, particularly on the primary straight and the part resulting in turns 4 and 5. This 12 months, following final season’s pattern, the purple automobile will goal to optimize high velocity, because it did in Mexico, the place between Friday and Saturday they lowered aerodynamic load from the Monaco specification, transferring 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 crew will go for an method much like final Sunday’s, specializing in a extra versatile specification appropriate for combined circuits. In 2023, it’s price recalling that Ferrari struggled in sluggish corners, notably on the first chicane, at turns 4 and 5, because of an endemic lack of vertical load. Reducing the trip heights had yielded good outcomes by way of qualifying efficiency, however this selection in the end compromised total efficiency over the 300-kilometer race distance. This 12 months, nevertheless, 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 crew’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 virtually a tenth and a half, which it then recovered with velocity within the high-speed part resulting in the end line. In quick corners, the SF-24 will search a compromise with suspension stiffness. The goal 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 crew depends on the motive force’s sensitivity to handle the automobile’s rear, prioritizing high velocity. 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 12 months, Ferrari goals to keep away from such problematic administration.
This may 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 12 months. 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 probably struggle for victory in Brazil.