Ferrari: the technical factor penalizing Charles Leclerc in start of 2024 F1 season. Why Carlos Sainz's pragmatism is proving effective in the current Formula 1 season.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the Ferrari driver duo since 2021. Two individuals who have been trying for years to improve the fortunes of the Prancing Horse. Alongside them, a myriad of other people, with many different roles, who together make the maximum effort to optimize processes: optimize is a transitive verb that inhabits the cognitive abilities of the Ferrari Racing Department. Ultimately, the work done by the Spaniard and the Monegasque since they shared the Ferrari Formula 1 garage should be considered very good. The last of the problems for the Maranello team in the recent past, in fact, was precisely the performance of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

On the contrary, the headaches suffered were primarily at a technical level because if in Formula 1 the car is not up to par, not even the best driver in the history of the sport can transform its performance, especially nowadays when the performance contribution of those behind the wheel of a single-seater presents significantly lower levels of impact than decades past. But fortunately, the red team has regained its senses. The Mattia Binotto mandate had long been stale and the breath of fresh air that Ferrari’s effort has produced is working well, led by executive chairman John Elkann.

These are concrete measures that have provided a vital and much-needed boost to a Maranello team locked in on itself, helpless and incapable of reacting with former team principal Mattia Binotto above all. With French manager Frederic Vasseur at the helm, Scuderia Ferrari is another story to describe it in colloquial terms. The SF-24 car works, it doesn’t lie, and it does its job as best it can. And if it’s not the best car on the grid, well, after the difficult moments of the previous Formula 1 championship, with four rounds of the current 2024 racing campaign set aside, the Italian cars have always made it to the podium, won races, and even managed to achieve a historic one-two finish at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.

The second force in the championship awaits the aero-mechanical reinforcements which will most likely be introduced at the Imola circuit next month to take another evolutionary step. Red Bull remains the benchmark. There’s no doubt about that and no one is creating false illusions. Nevertheless, the historic team from Italy has absolutely no intention of letting go of the RB20 cars, which although for now are holding their ground, could soon face a much more suffocating pressure from Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. These are the desires of Scuderia Ferrari, which although not getting ahead of themselves, knowing all too well the capabilities of the Milton Keynes team, has been cooking up a dish for months that could be partially indigestible for the reigning world champions.

Ferrari: Sainz’s pragmatism is proving effective. Leclerc’s pursuit of excellence, less so.

In Formula 1, there are several variables that contribute to performance. One of these can be defined as “a human equation” that can heavily influence performance. A crucial relationship between driver and engineer that effectively defines the competitiveness of the car. A synergy where these figures must be adept at perfectly implementing the plan and indications provided. A two-way exchange where a small problem or obstacle can skew expectations. Within this equation arises the result that obviously can change the value of the package presented in a race weekend.

In the preparation phase for the race weekend, the parameters evaluated by Ferrari are multiple. We are talking about a series of mathematical calculations studied on the drawing board. We recently discussed the choices in terms of downforce, where 2 or 3 solutions, not too far apart, are brought, and on the track they are tested by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in the first two free practice sessions. The same goes for tires, where the mathematical model or the tyre model of the compounds is defined and then verified on the cars. Not to forget the indications from the scans regarding the front and rear ground clearances with the relative stiffness of the suspension setups, to decide which compromise to prioritize in order to maximize the result of qualifying and the race.

We are talking about heterogeneous aspects that must, however, inevitably fit into the same reasoning. It is precisely in this context that the Maranello team’s ability to optimize the available material lies. Let’s take an example to better understand. When Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz take to the track with the baggage of choices and considerations shared with the Ferrari engineers, they must be able to “explain” the car. To precisely describe the sensations at the wheel to facilitate the role of the technicians who, once they understand the drivers’ perception, offer possible adjustments to the setup. Clearly, the same driver can easily request and obtain the type and extent of modification based on their experience.

The clear goal is to go as fast as possible, and apparently, in this first segment of the championship, Carlos Sainz appears to be more pragmatic than Charles Leclerc. There is a subtle difference that, at this point, should be taken into consideration. The ideal and fastest setup only exists theoretically. This is because each individual driver is capable of reaching their maximum performance with certain characteristics. Carlos Sainz’s approach seems practical, while Charles Leclerc might be inclined towards achieving maximum theoretical performance, which remains theoretical since what is optimal in theory does not perfectly align with his driving style.

Source: Alessandro Arcari FUnoanalisitecnica