At Ferrari, there was no hiding: the Qatar GP wouldn’t be favorable for the SF-24. The truth is, the Scuderia was pressured to play defensively to restrict the injury within the constructors’ standings towards McLaren, which discovered the Losail circuit extra suited to the traits of its automotive. Thus, Ferrari approached the Dash classes first and qualifying later absolutely respecting these expectations, left with a bitter style after a promising first apply session.
Nevertheless, over time, the efficiency of the SF-24 improved, though it was not akin to the leaders, with McLaren proving superior within the Dash classes (higher than a nervous and understeering Ferrari). This was a problem that the staff’s engineers couldn’t resolve earlier than Parc Fermé forward of the race qualification, the place the SF-24 continued to underperform, ending behind McLaren, Mercedes, and Pink Bull. Throughout the race, up till the chaotic finale, the state of affairs appeared unchanged—lower than ultimate for the battle for the constructors’ title—with McLaren seemingly in higher form and increasing their lead within the standings. Nevertheless, the ultimate laps, aided by Charles Leclerc’s restart and Norris’s harsh penalty for not slowing below yellow flags, allowed Ferrari to overturn the state of affairs, ending second and sixth with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, narrowing the hole to their papaya-colored rivals and suspending the constructors’ title combat to the ultimate race in Abu Dhabi.
A tense and chaotic race, analyzed by Ferrari’s staff principal Fréd Vasseur on Sky Sport F1. Fred Vasseur first expressed his satisfaction at deferring the constructors’ title determination to Abu Dhabi, then delved into the chaotic race finale and subsequent penalties imposed on Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
“It’s good that the championship shall be determined in Abu Dhabi. Talking of the penalties, we will’t argue about them, however relating to the mirror subject, we will definitely say that the Security Automobile might have been deployed earlier. It could have been much less harmful. This occurred throughout Leclerc’s overtaking of Bottas. But it surely was unlucky for everybody. It’s simple to remark now; it will have been higher to deploy a VSC and clear the observe, however I consider they didn’t anticipate every thing that occurred. It was off the racing line, however on the road used for overtaking.”
The Ferrari boss was then requested concerning the technique adopted, which was very conservative within the first laps when Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc have been instructed to not push to keep away from tire put on however finally gathered a big hole from the leaders.
“We weren’t fearful about degradation; it was merely our plan: handle for 7-8 laps, and the drivers dealt with it properly. Solely after that did we push. We introduced ahead the cease, however I feel the technique was good.”
Moreover, the French supervisor commented on the choice to not match Gentle tires on Charles Leclerc’s automotive within the remaining laps to problem McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. It was a selection deemed too dangerous by the staff in purple…
“No, we pitted two laps earlier and have been assured within the Exhausting tires to push to the top. We thought of becoming the Softs, however we might have needed to handle them in another way. Plus, a pit cease can all the time current dangers.” – the French supervisor identified.
Lastly, an inevitable query concerning the constructors’ title battle, which is able to finally be determined in Abu Dhabi—a observe extra suited to Ferrari, the place all the staff will give it their all till the final nook of the final lap of the 2024 System 1 season.
“Let’s get by this race first. We’re nonetheless within the combat; something is feasible. We are able to give attention to McLaren. We’re forward of Pink Bull, and Abu Dhabi will swimsuit us higher. With Max within the combine and Mercedes within the pack, every thing shall be unsure. We’ll push like loopy till the final lap, and we’ll see.”
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