Ferrari top secret: after free practice, work continues on simulator | 2024 F1 Las Vegas GP. Ferrari: Solutions and setup adjustments are tested to improve performance.

Ferrari needs to secure a positive result at the Las Vegas GP if it wants to maintain its momentum in the Constructors’ Championship battle, with three races remaining in the 2024 season. Eric Van der Veen, a 37-year-old Dutchman, is one of the engineers in the Racing Department who works on the simulator, supporting the sessions drivers undertake in preparation for GPs.

The Breda-born technician, in addition to explaining the challenges of a unique urban circuit like Las Vegas, guides us through what happens at the Maranello simulator after the two drivers complete free practice sessions with the SF-24. This activity is usually considered top secret by teams, but Van der Veen gives us a glimpse into the work of the test drivers—work that remains obscure but invaluable.

Eric explains the challenges of the track on the Strip:
“Las Vegas is one of those tracks that may seem easy when looking at the layout, but it’s actually very tricky. There are only five sequences of corners, but all are low-speed with heavy braking zones, and some are blind. The heavy braking zones must be tackled perfectly, even when traveling at speeds exceeding 340 km/h, which requires high downforce to give the driver the confidence to brake, navigate the corners, and accelerate again to tackle the long straights, where low drag and minimal aerodynamic load are needed.”

The long straights cause both brake and tire temperatures to drop…
“The heavy braking zones at the end of the straights present new challenges because the driver must manage the drop in brake and tire temperatures. Additionally, racing on a street circuit means the margin for error is minimal. Lastly, Las Vegas is in the desert, and the race takes place at night, when temperatures can drop below 10°C, making it difficult to quickly bring the tires into the proper temperature window during qualifying and equally challenging to keep them there during the race. As mentioned, the tires cool further on the long straights, creating a uniquely challenging scenario for teams and drivers.”

Last year, you had very little data to use on the simulator, which was the only tool available to help the drivers and the team prepare for this new circuit. Now that you have real data from the track, what role does the simulator play?
“Comparing what we knew last year with what we know this year, the situation is completely different. While last year’s track model was based on drawings, this year we have a complete representation of the track and its asphalt. With all the data from 2023, we can now predict much more accurately what to expect this year. This means that engineers and drivers—both Carlos and Charles, as well as the drivers supporting us on the simulator—were able to better prepare for the weekend, both to familiarize themselves with the track and to configure the car.”

Did both main drivers work on the simulator?
“As usual, Charles and Carlos worked on the simulator, focusing on driving style and setups to arrive well-prepared for Las Vegas, as well as being ready to handle potentially unexpected conditions. This is precisely when the simulator becomes an extremely powerful tool, and preparation sessions are invaluable for enabling drivers to optimize their driving style for a specific track.”

What kind of support can you provide to the team on the track during Friday’s free practice sessions?
“The simulator driver’s program during free practice focuses on optimizing individual corners, as there are so few sequences where the drivers can make a difference. It’s crucial that the drivers on track have a car that allows them to push to the limit without exceeding it, as the corners are tight and blind. Therefore, on the simulator, we mainly work on balance and cornering driving style, sometimes exceeding the limit and hitting the walls—thankfully, in the simulator, the damage isn’t real (there’s only a jolt to let the driver know they’ve hit something!). Typically, during sessions supporting the team on track, we replicate the conditions, setups, and driving style from practice laps exactly.”

After replicating the activities from free practice, do you look for solutions to improve performance?
“In this way, we can identify the car’s strengths and weaknesses, seek to improve performance, and provide this feedback to the team on track, which can then work on the setups accordingly. We also use these sessions to anticipate what to expect if weather conditions change during the weekend—for example, variations in temperature, wind direction, and intensity from day to day or even during a single session. By simulating these weather conditions, we can tell the drivers what to expect, allowing them to extract maximum performance from the car before even hitting the track.”