Race weekend, here we go! After a one-week break, the Formula 1 season continues with the Chinese Grand Prix. The Ferrari SF-24 car is gearing up to face a tough challenge at the 5.451-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit next weekend, aiming to confirm its status as the second force in this first part of the 2024 Formula 1 championship. Moreover, the desire to put pressure on Red Bull is growing stronger. For this reason, the Maranello team has prepared more than usual during the last week. Firstly, the focus of the Ferrari technicians has been on the tire issue, which effectively influenced the outcome of the previous race, at the Suzuka circuit. An indecisive and unproductive Saturday was evident for Scuderia Ferrari, a qualifying session where the two SF-24 cars were unable to optimize results and therefore put themselves in a more complicated position for Sunday’s race.
Why? The tires precisely. A difficult warm-up strategy that didn’t allow Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to get the compounds to work properly. The lap time performance therefore suffered considerably, and although the gap from the front row wasn’t that huge, those few tenths lost compromised the first stint of the Japanese Grand Prix, as the two Ferrari drivers were forced to run in the traffic of the two McLaren cars of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. A situation that caused a significant loss of race time for the red team, unable to pressure at least one of the two RB20 car, notably the number 11 of Sergio Perez, which was more within reach. To avoid a repetition of such a qualifying session, simulator work has been consistently done in Maranello over the last few days as preparations for the Chinese Grand Prix continue.
Especially for Charles Leclerc, who openly admitted to lacking the right familiarity with the Pirelli tires during the last two Formula 1 race weekends, in Australia and Japan. The Monegasque driver studied the hysteresis cycle of the tires with great dedication. A targeted examination to enhance his feedback. The study led to new and different warm-up strategies because the chemical grip of the compound needs to be perfectly centered to achieve maximum performance on a flying lap in the qualifying session. The long-distance aspect is simpler, as the Maranello cars run on track with a high quantity of fuel onboard.
Scuderia Ferrari has shown great skill in managing the car under such conditions, although in this case, the workgroup studied different tire models for the race. All this, combined with the drivers’ management efforts, who, although facilitated in this task by the inherent solid qualities of the two SF-24 cars, are able to add extra work to increase tire performance over the stints, supported by the dedicated vehicle dynamics department that can finally provide all the useful indications to go even beyond the normal tire wear cycle. In this sense, Charles Leclerc’s first stint at the Suzuka circuit in Japan is a clear example.
Ferrari SF-24 in China: Extra factual work to optimize the setup.
The circumstances in Shanghai will be different and the reason is simple: the first of the six seasonal appointments based on the Sprint Race format is unfolding in China. A choice that has sparked quite a bit of discussion. Returning to a track like the Chinese one, very technical, after 5 years without any reference with the new generation of Formula 1 cars, will not be easy at all. Especially considering that drivers and technicians will have only sixty minutes to put together the best setup. And Liberty Media made this decision precisely to put the various teams in difficulty.
The reason is obvious: the hope is to mix up the cards on the table as much as possible to create some more uncertainties that Liberty Media is confident will lead to a more entertaining weekend for the fans. A scenario that, in turn, is very useful for keeping viewers glued to their screens. For this reason, the Prancing Horse has done extra work, with the clear conviction of presenting itself at the first free practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix more ready than ever. The opportunity to maximize the setup of the SF-24 is significant. This considering that, unlike Red Bull, Ferrari has always proven to be very prepared on Fridays in this early part of the 2024 Formula 1 championship.
A point on which the historic Italian team relies heavily, although finding the right aero-mechanical compromise will be quite complicated. It is necessary to take into account the particular nature of the oriental layout, designed by the German engineer Herman Tilke. There will be different types of corners to tackle and a 1.2 km long straight where efficiency will play a crucial role in terms of overall lap time. Simultaneously, during the first free practice session, various tests on the configuration of the hybrid system will take place. Motor-generators, MGU-H, and MGH-K must be able to distribute the approximately 160 horsepower of recovered power in the most effective way.
We will provide all the details in our usual technical preview of the Shanghai circuit, which is scheduled for tomorrow late morning. In the meantime, we can say that Scuderia Ferrari has packed strong convictions for the Chinese Grand Prix, a firmly belief “built” on the basis of data obtained during the last few days through the use of the simulation field. All we have to do is wait until the anticipation runs out of steam, making room for action on the track. In doing so, we must necessarily emphasize the strong awareness that the Maranello team, led by Frederic Vasseur, brings with it, a clear characteristic of the French manager’s leadership.
Source: FUnoanalisitecnica
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