Following the Bahrain Grand Prix, the focus now shifts to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the second round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. A back-to-back event that will provide further technical insights into ground-effect cars, invaluable for engineers to continue the learning path. The main feature of the city circuit on the shores of the Red Sea is speed. The single-seaters will generally adopt a medium aerodynamic load specification, and, as expected, having an efficient car will be of crucial importance. Ferrari approaches the Jeddah weekend with a lot of enthusiasm and a desire for redemption.
The SF-24 car has proven to be very good in medium-fast corners, combined with excellent handling characteristics in corners with support. Additionally, the long straights and the smooth, non-abrasive surface can significantly aid Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in managing degradation with a high fuel load. Nevertheless, the undisputed favorite remains Max Verstappen. The reigning world champion, with last Saturday’s victory, has dispelled all doubts about Red Bull’s performance, picking up where he left off in 2023.
The RB20, on the Jeddah track, can undoubtedly once again leverage a truly astonishing weapon in its arsenal: the super DRS, which, combined with the great efficiency of the Austrian car, can become the winning factor for the Milton Keynes-based team. After all, the actual ability to generate a lot of vertical downforce with the car is well-known. In this regard, it will be interesting to assess the level of drag for the red car, which, compared to the last season, could be slightly higher.
The Jeddah Corniche circuit consists of 27 corners, 16 left and 11 right, for a total length of 6127 meters. The rotation direction is counterclockwise, and during the race, 50 laps will be completed for a total of approximately 308 km. Pirelli will provide the “central” range of tires. The tire compounds will be: C2 Hard, C3 Medium, and C4 Soft. The track is not aggressive on the tires, with degradation phenomena expected to be limited compared to the inaugural race.
Looking at data from the past season, about 12 months ago, we can argue that the race strategy regarding the use of various tire compounds should be completed with a single pit stop, using Medium and then Hard in order. Overall, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit has three sections where the use of the DRS is allowed and “only” 7 corners where brake usage is required. Of these, 5 are of medium-high speed, and 2 are medium-low speed.
Saudi Arabian GP 2024/Track Analysis S1: Fast load support corners: tow on the straight is very useful
The distance between the first grid slot and turn 1 is about 280m. It is crucial to be the fastest in qualifying. The limited space toward the first turn doesn’t allow for easy position recovery. The pole-sitter will start on the outside compared to the first braking point and, with a good start, can close the door to those behind, completing the first variant in the lead. In a flying lap, the finish line is crossed at about 310 km/h with the DRS open.
However, to improve top speed at the end of the main straight, it may be essential to benefit from the slipstream of a teammate or another car completing a lap. This practice can lead to a calculated gain of up to two-tenths in a few hundred meters. In turn 1, braking occurs at the 100-meter board, with a deceleration of about 240 km/h, “cutting” directly toward turn 2 without widening and directly hitting the apex.
Exiting, you will go full throttle with still a certain amount of steering angle. It is crucial to find the limit of the car in free practice to avoid generating oversteer. Turn 4 is entered by braking at the 50-meter board, then anticipating the entry to brush against the wall. On exit, there are turns 5 and 6, taken at full speed of over 220 km/h. Subsequently, the gas is eased in turn 7, while to tackle turn 9, the drivers slow down between 30 and 40 km/h, the fastest section of the circuit where aerodynamic efficiency and load will make the difference.
F1, Saudi Arabian GP 2024/Track Analysis S2: The straight sections require low drag. Dangerous oversteer at 22
The central sector of the track designed by German engineer Hermann Tilke begins with a short straight leading to the turn of curve 13, a long-radius, fourth-gear, medium-speed corner. Drivers will try to stay as close to the apex as possible to cover less distance, gradually opening the throttle on exit after passing the apex. Subsequently, a section of about 500m takes shape, performed flat out, cutting turns 14 and 15 without losing engine thrust.
Towards turn 16, speed drops by 100 km/h, braking at the 50-meter board, where the tendency is to anticipate the turning point to have a good position at 17. After that, you can open the DRS, covering about a kilometer with the throttle fully open. In this long straight, aerodynamic efficiency and a car that handles well in corners are vital so as not to lose speed considering the slight steering angle used.
F1, Saudi Arabian GP 2024/Track Analysis S3: Delayed apex at 27. Understeer “can lead” to the barriers.
The straight we just described leads to the braking point of turn 22, to be taken in fifth gear at about 180 km/h. The goal is to cut the entrance as much as possible, brushing against the left wall, to be well-positioned on exit toward turn 23, to be taken using the curbs. The danger in making this section lies in the shift of the load, which could trigger a pendulum effect and send the car into the barriers.
Subsequently, at the exit of 24, the DRS is available again, hugging the lake towards turn 27. The final hairpin is another overtaking opportunity and is entered in third gear, widening the entry a lot. Trying to delay the apex as much as possible to get on the throttle early with the least possible steering angle is also important. It is also crucial to manage the tires well at the end of the lap to avoid understeer toward the barriers on exit.
Source: FUnoanalisitecnica
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