A Ferrari car providing promising signs. The second day of testing in Bahrain ended with the Maranello team leading the way. Carlos Sainz, in fact, set the fastest time of the day in 1:29.921. However, what truly impressed was the race pace. While these times should be approached with caution as the various teams’ programs are unknown, the SF-24 seems to be showing positive signs.
Charles Leclerc displays an improved SF-24 in tire management
The most encouraging signs seem to come from tire degradation. Indeed, Ferrari has worked extensively to address a significant issue with the SF-23. Charles Leclerc’s long runs in the morning, interrupted by a red flag, appear to highlight a car that is gentler on the tires.
It’s challenging to comment on the absolute values of the times, as they are influenced by fuel loads, but analyzing the trend is possible. We witnessed a Red car maintaining a much more consistent performance, a decidedly positive indication. The work done in Maranello on suspensions and weight balance seems to be bearing fruit.
The “fast” lap was also very good, considering that the morning track conditions and temperatures were not optimal. Charles Leclerc completed his lap in 1:31.750 on C3 tires, the sixth absolute time of the day.
Carlos Sainz leads the way on Day 2 of testing in Bahrain
In the afternoon, it was Carlos Sainz’s turn to take the SF-24 to the track. The Spaniard set the best time of the day at 1:29.921 on C4 tires. With the same tires as Perez, Hamilton, and Norris, using the C3 compound, the Madrid native would have remained slightly behind.
Sainz also focused on long runs but with a different program than Charles Leclerc. Carlos Sainz started the stint with the C3 with two very fast times, both at 1:36. Probably, Ferrari tried to give a “strong” introduction to the tire to assess its behavior.
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Switching to the C2, the Ferrari driver delivered an impressive stint. Carlos Sainz started with a 1:37.2 and then oscillated between 37.1 and 37.5 for about twenty laps, confirming excellent tire management. The stint was also more competitive than Perez’s on the same tire. It should be noted that Sainz benefited from slightly better track conditions.
Even the last run on C1 tires highlighted a truly in-form Ferrari. Carlos Sainz attacked with a 35.5 against Perez’s 37.3, who never matched the Spaniard’s times. The Red driver then continued at that pace for several laps, even going under 35.0 for a lap.
We witnessed a very competitive Ferrari in simulating race pace. The step forward from the SF-23 is evident. Even from on-board perspectives, the new car seems to have a good balance and be easier to drive. Very few corrections were needed while driving.
The SF-24 is a well-born machine, and its on-track behavior is proof of that. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a winner. Charles Leclerc has underlined the clear weaknesses of this car and where interventions will be necessary.
Naturally, it is still early to draw conclusions. We do not know the teams’ programs and the fuel loads used for the long runs.
What is certain, though, is that Ferrari has improved significantly compared to the past season. The SF-24 is showing positive signs, and the times from long runs demonstrate that, especially on a track like Bahrain, which is not particularly gentle on tires.
The in-house comparison with 2023 is, therefore, absolutely positive. However, it is challenging to evaluate clearly where Ferrari stands compared to its rivals. Red Bull remains the car to beat, especially with Max Verstappen. We will see if we get more indications in tomorrow’s session.
Source: f1ingenerale
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