Ferrari identifies cause of tyre graining phase struggles in 2021 French GP. Ferrari identifies cause of tyre graining phase struggles in France.

During the 2021 French Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari encountered enormous difficulties in managing tire wear, so much so that it showed a race pace on the track that was 1 ″ 5 slower than in the simulations. This caused both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc to finish the race outside the points,  in eleventh and sixteenth position at the Paul Ricard circuit.

This disappointing performance also led to a loss in the constructors’ standings, where the Maranello team went from third place with +2 on McLaren, to fourth at -16 from the British side. After the race, team principal Mattia Binotto stressed the need to understand the causes of such a poor performance as soon as possible. Causes that, according to today’s edition of Corriere dello Sport, are to be found in the imperfect work of the wheel rims, unable to dispose of the excess heat that generated the graining which made the SF21’s race an odyssey. But on the rims – due to the 2021 regulations – it is not possible to intervene.

“[…] But the tangle remains: what really happened in Le Castellet, which must not be repeated elsewhere? Yesterday morning the technicians compared data and ideas in the traditional post-race meeting, and it was understood that the track cleaned by the morning rain put everyone in difficulty but the Ferrari even more. After further observation, Ferrari noticed that the wheels led to the issue. In particular: the ability of the rims to dispose of excess heat. Unfortunately Ferrari cannot intervene on those: they have been frozen since last year, due to the need to contain costs. […] On Sunday the reds were planted. In particular they ate the tires, which thus lasted a maximum of twelve laps. […] And in any case, nothing that has to do with the new technical directive on Pirelli tyre pressure. If the cause really comes from the rims there is no solution, one can only hope that the phenomenon […] will not be repeated in an accentuated form at Silverstone; and that the Hungaroring, which also does not have fast corners, will not see one of its hottest Sundays. […]. “
Fulvio Solms, Corriere dello Sport, 22 June 2021