It’s Ferrari again in F1 for the third weekend in a row. Although the passion is strong, a break would be nice every now and then. Nevertheless, here we are, with five devices on, ready to cover this first and only practice session. Sixty minutes of intensity. One hour in which the Prancing Horse will validate its simulator setup using driver-in-the-loop software. There are no updates for the SF-24, unlike McLaren, which brings a new front wing. Ferrari has no updates, but it’s confident it can compete at the top in Brazil.
Round 21 of the premier motorsport series takes place at Interlagos, a challenging circuit due to its unique layout. The track includes several tight turns in Sector 2, where braking must be managed while steering, along with faster bends, high-speed sections, and varied elevations. The weather looks good, though the event has sometimes seen sudden storms. Ferrari expects its car to perform well here, as it has proven competitive on all types of circuits.
Today’s challenge will be intriguing, as teams not only focus on outright performance with qualifying laps but also analyze behavior with a high fuel load. This track has noticeable tire degradation, so F1 teams will need to find a setup that maximizes their cars’ potential. Ferrari struggled in this area in 2023, so it has carefully prepared to avoid repeating those issues. The goal? Start strong from the outset.
F1, Brazilian GP 2024: Ferrari bumpy, lacking uniform downforce
Let’s look at weather and track conditions: 26.4°C air temperature, 53.4°C track temperature, 52% humidity, with a 1.2 km/h southwesterly wind. In the garage, everything is set. Both “Carlos” are in the two SF-24s, awaiting the mechanics’ green light to leave the pit lane. Roughly two minutes into the session, both Ferraris hit the Brazilian track for the first time this weekend on a set of yellow-banded Pirelli tires.
This compound allows the team to study the cars’ behavior with a certain level of stability. They start with the ICE in Engine 5 mode, used for racing. After warming up the tires, they switch to race mode and push. Charles lifts halfway through his lap, feeling the tires weren’t fully warmed up. In contrast, Sainz completes his lap, but radios in to note low grip on the track and that the car feels quite bumpy.
The Italian team is taking a cautious approach, as it can’t afford any mistakes. On the second attempt, initial impressions aren’t great. The team is assessing if the ride height adjustments are correct. Early on, handling is imperfect, with too much rear slip. Curves 1 and 10 are the main losses so far, with Leclerc losing four-tenths in total compared to Perez’s best time. After a few cooling laps, they increase the ICE power output.
Charles had to lift his foot on his third attempt, also making a -4 adjustment on the front wing to balance downforce. Sainz is more precise at this stage and avoids traffic, though he makes a mistake in Turn 12, going off track limits. He, too, lowers front downforce, “minus 2,” before returning to the track. Though Charles started strong, he lifts again while Sainz pushes. Both complete laps but aren’t satisfied with their performance.
Leclerc says his lap was terrible. Overall, Ferrari is struggling, especially with minor instability in Sector 2. There’s annoying oversteer, and Sainz continues to report excessive bouncing, particularly in Turn 6, leading to uneven downforce. The fact that oversteer appears with more engine power suggests adjustments are needed to stabilize the aerodynamic platform. The SF-24 needs refining to unlock its full performance, which is currently missing.
F1, Brazilian GP 2024: Ferrari limited by ride height doesn’t extract maximum performance
After a ten-minute break, both Ferrari cars return to the track. They’re still on the same used Medium tires. Mechanics have likely made suspension adjustments to address instability. Charles Leclerc puts in a more consistent time, and the car seems slightly more stable. Carlos Sainz, however, continues to struggle. After this attempt, they move to high-fuel tests to assess the car’s behavior with a full tank.
In the race simulation, the pace appears good. With more fuel, the car’s driveability seems improved, and the annoying corrections no longer appear. It’s hard to tell for sure in just a few laps, especially since we don’t know other teams’ fuel loads. Nonetheless, in high-fuel testing, Ferrari seems to perform better than in a single lap. After a roughly five-lap run, they return to the garage, where the mechanics fit Soft tires for another qualifying simulation, taking advantage of the added grip of the red-banded compound.
Halfway through his first attempt, Charles lifts due to an error entering Sector 2. He says grip is suboptimal, making it hard to manage the car. After a cooling lap, he pushes again and completes his lap, but isn’t satisfied. The same goes for Carlos, who can’t find the confidence to push to the limit. As the session nears its end, things aren’t going as well as expected. It remains to be seen if the suspension is working as it should. Ferrari isn’t far off its target but still needs to improve.
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