An unusual scene in Singapore with the two Ferraris leading the Friday at Marina Bay. The last event that required a maximum downforce setup was at Zandvoort and it showed the SF-23’s significant difficulties. In that case, Ferrari couldn’t handle the maximum rear downforce, but in Singapore, it has shown, for now, a great overall balance. Apparently, wet tests at Fiorano and minor upgrades to the front have allowed Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc to achieve this feat. Let’s analyze the telemetry from the FP2 session in Singapore to see where the differences with their opponents are.
Sainz vs. Leclerc: Only a Few Centimeters Separate Them
The unexpected performance of Ferrari in Singapore has highlighted great balance in the lap times of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. In fact, the two drivers behind the wheel of the SF-23 are separated by only 18 milliseconds. Analyzing the laps completed by both, we can observe some differences that have led to the same result in terms of lap time. What mainly distinguishes the two drivers is their approach in the first and third sectors. In the first sector, we can see that in the braking zone of turn 1, Carlos Sainz releases the throttle earlier to prepare the initial transitions better. However, the exit progression from turn 3 is identical. In the second sector, their performance is quite similar, except for turn 13, where Charles Leclerc arrives with a slightly higher speed. The most noticeable differences emerge in their approach to the third sector. In turn 16, Carlos Sainz manages to brake about 50 meters later, but this does not affect the exit and the completion of the lap.
Trouble for Verstappen in FP2 at the Singapore GP
In the lead-up to the weekend, Horner and Marko’s words had revealed some concern about the performance of the RB19 in Singapore. Watching the Friday free practice sessions, these concerns were justified. The two Red Bull drivers, at the end of the 60 minutes, found themselves about 7 tenths off the pace and encountered various difficulties in handling the RB19. What was most surprising was the difficulty Max Verstappen faced in achieving a quick lap. Comparing Carlos Sainz’s and the reigning world champion’s fastest laps, we can see some significant differences highlighting the Dutchman’s poor performance. On the starting straight, the SF-23 manages to be several km/h faster and brake decisively without losing rear downforce. A significant difference emerges in turn 2, where Sainz is clearly more efficient than Verstappen, indicating a good aerodynamic and mechanical balance.
However, what makes the difficulties of the RB19 even more apparent are the minimum speeds in the corners. In several turns, Max Verstappen’s car is 2 to 4 km/h slower through the corner. The only point where Max Verstappen is more effective is in the section from turn 10 to 11, which he manages to navigate with a slight speed advantage. Certainly, the uneven road surface did not help Red Bull, which probably had to raise the car to avoid damaging the floor. We will see if the engineers can figure out the situation overnight to provide the true RB19 that dominated all previous rounds.
Source: f1ingenerale
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