The eve of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix within the Ferrari camp started with the motto of believing and pushing till the top to keep away from any regrets. The constructors’ title didn’t go to Maranello, however on this decisive weekend, the crew left no stone unturned, although the weekend grew to become difficult earlier than the apply periods, as a result of battery substitute on Charles Leclerc’s SF-24.
After the race, Ferrari crew principal Frederic Vasseur defined that past efficiency considerations, the actual concern prompting the substitute was the chance of a race retirement, one thing the Italian facet clearly couldn’t afford given the purpose of conserving their championship hopes alive. Undoubtedly, the penalty was a bitter be aware to begin the weekend, which was additional difficult by Charles Leclerc’s lap time cancellation in Q2, successfully sending him to the again of the grid.
The night time between Saturday and Sunday was stuffed with deliberation, particularly relating to whether or not to interchange the Energy Unit. Ultimately, they determined to stay with the unit already mounted on the automobile. This determination made sense, because the degradation of the interior combustion engine over its life cycle has been decreased, notably since groups have targeted extra on reliability than pure energy following the freeze.
What shocked most was the choice to begin on medium tires, not solely as a result of there was all the time the chance that contact might additional compromise the race but additionally as a result of the laborious tire doubtlessly supplied higher strategic flexibility in a race the place there have been nonetheless some doubts, regardless of the final intention to purpose for a one-stop technique. It’s no coincidence that groups saved a second set of laborious tires as a backup.
It was an all-in on the beginning, and it paid off, realistically exceeding Ferrari’s finest expectations. To know why this was a daring selection and, above all, an attacking technique, we have to return twelve months to final yr’s GP. Even then, restricted tire degradation would have allowed for a one-stop technique, however some groups’ early pit stops created a domino impact, shifting the race in direction of two stops.
This state of affairs re-emerged this yr. Pirelli’s calculations urged {that a} one-stop technique ought to have been just a few seconds quicker than a two-stop, usually encouraging groups to purpose for one cease whereas managing degradation. Nevertheless, if final yr’s state of affairs repeated, the race might have shifted to 2 stops, which a number of groups thought-about at one level in the course of the Grand Prix.
Thus, the laborious tire might have been a cautious however logical selection. Whereas it could not have supplied distinctive grip firstly, it could have allowed for an extended stint, observing rivals’ methods, and doubtlessly capitalizing on a Security Automobile at an opportune second. This was Mercedes’ reasoning, whereas Ferrari instantly clarified their attacking technique. If the beginning had not gone effectively, recovering with the identical tires because the rivals would undoubtedly have required rethinking many elements mid-race.
Conversely, Ferrari’s gamble on an aggressive race paid off higher than anticipated. Charles Leclerc’s good first lap was aided by a little bit of luck, with some favorable incidents, however his potential to extract the utmost, discover area, imagine in himself, and make a distinction stood out. Rising to eighth place instantly put the Monegasque ready to doubtlessly battle top-tier rivals on equal strategic footing at a degree within the race when the successful tactic was nonetheless unclear.
In the end, the medium tire turned from a possible danger into one of many keys to the rostrum. Charles Leclerc continued to climb the standings, reaching fourth place, earlier than going through the problem of George Russell, who was barely off kind this weekend in comparison with different races after dedicating a part of apply to experimental testing for the 2025 Formulation 1 season.
Though Charles Leclerc had good tempo, overtaking in Abu Dhabi is difficult, particularly when getting into soiled air, which will increase tire sliding within the third sector. This led Ferrari to deliberate on their subsequent transfer: after Mercedes didn’t take the bait on a feint aimed toward pushing them right into a pit cease, Ferrari determined to drag the set off and name in Charles Leclerc.
At a time when different groups had already stopped, shifting the race in direction of two pit stops, Ferrari’s determination was not with out doubts. The pit window was roughly the identical as final yr when the race shifted to 2 stops, making the chance of a repeat important. If the laborious tire held, Charles Leclerc would want to finish 38 laps on the identical set. Moreover, stopping early risked encountering site visitors from drivers like Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg, who had modified tires 5–6 laps earlier.
Stopping early was an aggressive but calculated selection, as additionally they saved a watch on Lewis Hamilton, lower than ten seconds behind and clearly on a one-stop technique. Just like the preliminary medium tire selection, this daring determination paid off, not solely as a result of the undercut labored but additionally as a result of the race unfolded as Ferrari had hoped.
Trying on the first stint on laborious tires, many doubted whether or not the toughest compound might final till the top, and there was hypothesis in regards to the subsequent pit window. When requested in code if he thought the tires might go the space, even Charles Leclerc expressed doubts.
Nevertheless, lap by lap, degradation proved manageable, shifting the race from a two-stop to a one-stop technique, making Ferrari’s selection efficient, particularly in opposition to Lewis Hamilton.
Charles Leclerc’s comeback boiled down to 2 key components: his potential to ship a surprising first lap and keep robust tempo in key race moments, and Ferrari’s daring technique. The Maranello crew took dangers in a Grand Prix the place they aimed to grab their probabilities till the top, leaving no room for remorse.
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