Ferrari Head of Driving Simulator explains why Lusail 'requires even more rigorous preparation'

Ferrari Head of Driving Simulator explains why Lusail ‘requires even more rigorous preparation’. Ferrari Head of Driving Simulator previews the Lusail GP.

Returning to Lusail

For the first time since 2021, the year when the first and, until now, only edition of the Qatar Grand Prix took place, Formula 1 will return to the Middle East this weekend at the Lusail International circuit. This event thus connects recent history with the current season of the premier motorsport series, all the more so in a night race weekend featuring the Sprint race format. In any case, irrespective of the sentiments attached to these returns, getting back on the track after a break is not always a ‘romantic’ experience, especially for the teams involved.

The Challenges to Face

A confirmation comes directly from Ferrari through the words of Enrico Sampò, Head of Driving Simulator at the Maranello-based team. He explained what the major difficulties might be in view of such a Grand Prix. Additionally, it’s crucial to consider the significant technical and regulatory changes that occurred in 2022, making the current cars different from those of two years ago:

“Returning to a circuit visited only once in two years requires even more rigorous preparation and a careful evaluation of the uncertain elements, which are necessarily greater than usual,” he stated. “The data from 2021 is still useful, especially regarding the layout of the circuit, which has not fundamentally changed, although some details have changed, and the surface has been resurfaced. Therefore, it will be very important to verify the validity of our models during the Friday practice sessions. The debut of ground-effect cars on this track introduces an additional uncertainty into the weekend’s preparation, limiting the usefulness of the 2021 data. The simulator is therefore crucial for hypothesizing the car’s behavior on the track and trying to anticipate its associated limitations. Together with the drivers, we have virtually prepared what we believe to be a good starting setup and simulated different scenarios to be ready to react to the situations we might face.”

Circuit Profile

Among the various aspects to consider are the characteristics of the Lusail circuit, described by Enrico Sampò, who has been with Ferrari since 2011: “The circuit features 16 corners and one very long straight,” he explained. “In the first part, there are mainly medium-speed corners, while in the second part, there’s a high-speed sequence. Corner 6 is the only truly slow one on the entire circuit. This combination makes Lusail a fast and demanding track, requiring a car setup with a medium to high level of aerodynamic load to maintain good straight-line efficiency. The fast corners also require careful management of tire temperature and behavior to avoid overheating and premature wear. It’s a stimulating challenge.” – the Italian engineer concluded, ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend.