In Singapore, during the race where the SF-23 was victorious with Carlos Sainz, Ferrari had differentiated the cooling of the power unit and brakes between the FP1 session conducted in the daytime and the qualifications and night-time race. This operation is almost certainly expected to be repeated in Lusail, where the Sprint Race weekend returns and where the differences between day and night will be much more pronounced than in Marina Bay: this morning, the track temperature was at 43 degrees!
Lusail presents unusual uncertainties. The circuit for the Qatar Grand Prix is considered new by the FIA due to resurfacing, the movement of the pit body, and the redesign of the curbs. Therefore, all data from the 2021 race can be considered unreliable and of little significance.
Moreover, information from Doha indicates prohibitive temperatures. With the sun today, the temperature reached 43 degrees, while at night, it will drop to around 27 degrees. The only free practice session on Friday and the Shootout Sprint on Saturday will be held in full daylight, while qualifying, the Sprint Race, and the main race will take place at night.
As a result, the teams will have to adjust their cooling systems with different solutions based on the varying temperatures. In the successful Singapore weekend, Ferrari had already diversified the hot air outlets. In the first free practice session, there were only four engine cover openings with greater depth, and notably, they also partially extended to the upper part of the sidepods. For the evening sessions, there were six vents, but with significantly less open outlets to regain some aerodynamic efficiency.
In Doha, this last aspect will be important because the circuit is fast, and attention to these details can have an impact on performance and reliability. The same braking system will be revised between the free practice sessions and the rest of the event.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
It is worth noting that after the first free practice session. the cars will be subject to parc fermé regulations, which will restrict modifications to the cars. Therefore, the Shootout Sprint qualifying will be the most challenging in terms of environmental conditions.
Leave a Reply