Scuderia Ferrari has an extreme need to perform well in the Netherlands. The 15th round of the 2024 Formula 1 season plays a crucial role for the short-term future of the Italian team. While waiting for the important aerodynamic update package coming in September, the Prancing Horse must work to tighten its technical aspects. The key figures have revealed an interesting fact regarding the issues faced after the introduction of the new floor at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. It seems that the Ferrari engineers have understood the mistakes made. What remains unknown is the timing for fixing these problems.
In the meantime, they arrive at Zandvoort where the Maranello team has chosen a specific configuration. Once again, it involves a clear compromise that aims to “hide” the defects of the SF-24 and highlight the important features of the car. Ferrari has decided to move the car’s center of pressure forward to reduce drag. The downforce will therefore be completed with the beam-wing. This setup is below the optimal level studied for the Netherlands. It is a necessary choice to achieve good top speeds and avoid excessive drag.
It will also be interesting to see how the new setup regarding suspension schemes will work. This configuration is designed to better utilize ground clearance and achieve the necessary downforce without falling into troublesome aerodynamic pumping. Another interesting solution concerns the handling aimed at maximizing traction phases. The SF-24 is very strong on entry, but at the Zandvoort circuit, exit from slow corners is crucial for lap time. Therefore, in several points, entry speeds will need to be sacrificed to improve the car’s traction.
For now let’s take a detailed look at how things unfolded for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in the first free practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix:
The weather is causing problems in the start of FP1. As expected, rain has hit the Dutch track, and the climatic conditions are far from ideal. Additionally, there is a very strong wind, which obviously complicates aerodynamic aspects. For this reason, the session is at high risk at the moment. However, the Ferrari team is ready to get in their cars. The conditions of the track remain to be seen. Kevin Magnussen, in his Haas, is currently driving. Two laps have shown how wet and currently impractical the asphalt is.
He is followed by teammate Nico Hulkenberg, who after a spin and a “walk” on the gravel decides to return to the garage. Shortly after, it is Carlos Sainz’s turn to assess the track conditions. His SF-24 is equipped with a set of full wet tires. After setting aside the warm-up lap with the warm-up mode engaged, the Spaniard tries to complete a lap. The gearbox is set to GX position 3. Carlos switches to race mode and starts pushing as much as he can. However, it takes him just two corners to realize it’s better to back off and head to the pit lane.
The Spaniard then makes a pit stop in an attempt to heat up the tires, which are currently too cold and do not offer the expected grip. The aim of this first run is clear: besides checking the track conditions, Carlos Sainz gathered data on the car’s drag on the straights and simultaneously assessed the hybrid system setup. When Carlos returns to the pits, it’s his Maranello teammate’s turn. Charles Leclerc hits the track with the same tires: Pirelli wets. The Monegasque driver shows a more aggressive driving style, although he is performing the same task.
He then makes a pit stop for a tire change before heading back out. There are several adjustments to the steering because the SF-24 is struggling on track. Unlike Carlos Sainz, however, Charles Leclerc opts for a longer stint, actively working the steering wheel. The Monegasque displays surgical precision at the wheel and gradually improves his lap times. This first run is very important because, despite the conditions being far from ideal, it has still provided the team with valuable data for fine-tuning the Italian car.
Somewhat unexpectedly, the sun appears in the Netherlands, which could significantly help dry the track, especially considering that the rain has eased. Carlos Sainz is inside the garage in front of the computers, off the car, checking the situation before going back out. Meanwhile, it is time to switch to intermediate tires. Max Verstappen does this, choosing a brand-new set marked in green. This is the right choice because, although the Dutchman spins out in turn 11, fortunately without consequences, he lowers Leclerc’s time by nearly 5 seconds.
With about 20 minutes remaining in this first practice session at Zandvoort, television footage begins to show a dry line developing on the racing line. Carlos Sainz decides to get back in the SF-24 number 55 and leaves the pit lane. Intermediate tires for him. He performs the outlap vigorously before launching into his proper timed attempt. Unfortunately, an error quickly sends him outside track limits, but without consequences. Two minutes later, Leclerc also returns to the Dutch asphalt, also with a set of brand-new intermediates.
After the long stint, Carlos Sainz shows a time that can be considered fairly balanced despite the less-than-optimal conditions. On this occasion, it is the Spaniard who sets a series of fast laps, while Charles Leclerc only evaluates the track conditions: 2 laps for him before returning to the pits. Throughout this, it is worth noting that Ferrari chose not to focus on the clock, concentrating instead on studying the setup of the SF-24 single-seater.
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