Regardless of any changes at the top levels of Red Bull, Max Verstappen unfortunately continues to dominate the track with the RB20 single-seater, showcasing his command during races. At the Jeddah circuit, even on a track that theoretically favored Sergio Perez’s driving style, Max Verstappen maintained a clear lead. There were few corners where Max Verstappen could leverage an advantage, perhaps just a couple, yet he consistently outpaced his teammate by significant margins, clocking in at 6/7 tenths faster with identical strategies. This situation presents even more of a challenge for competitors than last year, when the Dutchman faced more difficulty in outperforming his teammate. Ferrari remains the second strongest team, yet the gap to Red Bull has only been partially closed by the SF-24 as was clear in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The question arose whether Charles Leclerc could outmaneuver Sergio Perez with a lighter wing configuration.
Early on, Charles Leclerc aimed to keep at least one Red Bull behind, trying to leverage Verstappen’s slipstream. This tactic only lasted four laps before Perez exploited Ferrari’s vulnerability on Jeddah’s first straight, making an overtake with a 25 km/h speed advantage. Leclerc struggled to keep up in the DRS zone, but a counter-move was not feasible. On the subsequent lap, even with a heavier setup, the SF-24 was only 12 km/h faster than its rival, rendering a counterattack impossible. Oliver Bearman, despite starting with soft tires and experienced management, also faced difficulties due to the surrounding cars having better straight-line speed with closed DRS and more efficiency with open DRS. This suggests a potential underutilization of the car’s capabilities.
Fred Vasseur’s statement about not hesitating to make daring decisions for potential advantages leaves one pondering whether Ferrari’s strategy was bold or cautious. A trial run in practice with a lighter setup could have provided valuable insights, reminiscent of strategies employed in Miami and Jeddah in 2022, but understandable given the lack of significant data.
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Reflecting on the Ferraris’ performance, it appears they might have been overly cautious, considering the flat tire degradation observed. The Maranello team could have sustained a faster pace for an additional 10 laps, while a pressure-free Red Bull began to show performance decline within a reasonable timeframe.
Charles Leclerc’s complaints about low tire temperatures during qualifying and the early race laps, and issues with a specific setup configuration, indicate that a lighter configuration might have offered more flexibility, particularly in managing rear tire temperatures and hybrid system usage. This decision reflects certain apprehensions that Ferrari needs to overcome by placing more trust in the SF-24’s high downforce capabilities.
Oliver Bearman emerged as a standout performer, similar to Max Verstappen’s dominance. Carlos Sainz, sidelined by a sudden appendicitis, was replaced by the 18-year-old Bearman, who was informed just two hours before the third practice session. Bearman’s debut was flawless, demonstrating remarkable composure and adaptability despite limited preparation with the SF-24. His performance was a boon for Ferrari in the constructors’ championship and underscored the need for Haas to prepare him for a potential 2025 seat.
Jerome d’Ambrosio, the “Driver Development Director” at Mercedes, has been speculated to succeed Toto Wolff or take on a race director role in Wolff’s reduced presence. However, d’Ambrosio is set to leave Mercedes to return to continental Europe with his family, transitioning to a directorial role at the Ferrari academy, currently led by Jock Clear, who will transition to a new role within the Maranello team, focusing more on F1 activities at the factory, marking a significant shift within the Ferrari team structure.
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