Ferrari must safe a optimistic consequence on the Las Vegas GP if it desires to take care of its momentum within the Constructors’ Championship battle, with three races remaining within the 2024 season. Eric Van der Veen, a 37-year-old Dutchman, is likely one of the engineers within the Racing Division who works on the simulator, supporting the periods drivers undertake in preparation for GPs.
The Breda-born technician, along with explaining the challenges of a singular city circuit like Las Vegas, guides us by what occurs on the Maranello simulator after the 2 drivers full free apply periods with the SF-24. This exercise is normally thought of prime secret by groups, however Van der Veen offers us a glimpse into the work of the check drivers—work that continues to be obscure however invaluable.
Eric explains the challenges of the monitor on the Strip:
“Las Vegas is a type of tracks that will appear straightforward when trying on the format, however it’s truly very difficult. There are solely 5 sequences of corners, however all are low-speed with heavy braking zones, and a few are blind. The heavy braking zones should be tackled completely, even when touring at speeds exceeding 340 km/h, which requires excessive downforce to provide the motive force the arrogance to brake, navigate the corners, and speed up once more to sort out the lengthy straights, the place low drag and minimal aerodynamic load are wanted.”
The lengthy straights trigger each brake and tire temperatures to drop…
“The heavy braking zones on the finish of the straights current new challenges as a result of the motive force should handle the drop in brake and tire temperatures. Moreover, racing on a avenue circuit means the margin for error is minimal. Lastly, Las Vegas is within the desert, and the race takes place at evening, when temperatures can drop beneath 10°C, making it tough to rapidly deliver the tires into the right temperature window throughout qualifying and equally difficult to maintain them there through the race. As talked about, the tires cool additional on the lengthy straights, making a uniquely difficult situation for groups and drivers.”
Final 12 months, you had little or no information to make use of on the simulator, which was the one device out there to assist the drivers and the group put together for this new circuit. Now that you’ve actual information from the monitor, what position does the simulator play?
“Evaluating what we knew final 12 months with what we all know this 12 months, the scenario is totally totally different. Whereas final 12 months’s monitor mannequin was primarily based on drawings, this 12 months we’ve an entire illustration of the monitor and its asphalt. With all the information from 2023, we will now predict rather more precisely what to anticipate this 12 months. Because of this engineers and drivers—each Carlos and Charles, in addition to the drivers supporting us on the simulator—had been in a position to higher put together for the weekend, each to familiarize themselves with the monitor and to configure the automobile.”
Did each fundamental drivers work on the simulator?
“As typical, Charles and Carlos labored on the simulator, specializing in driving fashion and setups to reach well-prepared for Las Vegas, in addition to being able to deal with doubtlessly sudden situations. That is exactly when the simulator turns into a particularly highly effective device, and preparation periods are invaluable for enabling drivers to optimize their driving fashion for a selected monitor.”
What sort of assist are you able to present to the group on the monitor throughout Friday’s free apply periods?
“The simulator driver’s program throughout free apply focuses on optimizing particular person corners, as there are so few sequences the place the drivers could make a distinction. It’s essential that the drivers on monitor have a automobile that enables them to push to the restrict with out exceeding it, because the corners are tight and blind. Subsequently, on the simulator, we primarily work on stability and cornering driving fashion, typically exceeding the restrict and hitting the partitions—fortunately, within the simulator, the injury isn’t actual (there’s solely a jolt to let the motive force know they’ve hit one thing!). Usually, throughout periods supporting the group on monitor, we replicate the situations, setups, and driving fashion from apply laps precisely.”
After replicating the actions from free apply, do you search for options to enhance efficiency?
“On this method, we will determine the automobile’s strengths and weaknesses, search to enhance efficiency, and supply this suggestions to the group on monitor, which may then work on the setups accordingly. We additionally use these periods to anticipate what to anticipate if climate situations change through the weekend—for instance, variations in temperature, wind path, and depth from day after day and even throughout a single session. By simulating these climate situations, we will inform the drivers what to anticipate, permitting them to extract most efficiency from the automobile earlier than even hitting the monitor.”
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