Formula 1 is approaching its debut on the new Las Vegas circuit. The teams have only been able to test the layout on simulators with all the limitations of the virtual world. Despite being a track with very high speeds and few corners, it is not excluded that it could be challenging to understand. Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, representing Aston Martin and Ferrari, respectively, have expressed their opinions on the possibilities of navigating the turns of the new Las Vegas track.
The traditional Thursday press conference was moved to Wednesday due to a general shift in track activities. During the interviews, some interesting questions were raised, including the challenges of facing a new track. With sessions lasting only 60 minutes, teams will try to stay on the track for as long as possible, gather data, and compare them with simulations. This was the focus of a journalist’s question during the press conference.
Based on the simulator preparation for this weekend, are there parts of the track or specific turns that you think could be important to gain time?
“I think turns 1-2-3 are a good combination, and I also think they are long corners,” Carlos Sainz commented initially. “There are also two curves that stand out a bit from the rest of the track, with the others being more like 90° angles and shorter apices. Additionally, there should also be a very long combined braking, I believe turns 6 and 7.” – the Spanish driver pointed out.
“In the simulator, they were quite challenging to interpret regarding braking. So, I think the key will be confidence with the low downforce car on the long straights and sharp braking,” Carlos Sainz concluded.
Alonso also expressed his opinion on the difficulty of some curves. “I fully agree with what Carlos Sainz said. It’s a city circuit, with low downforce, and it’s about getting familiar with the car and the braking zones.”
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“I also believe that, given the conditions of the track and the absence of support races, the evolution of the track during the weekend will be incredible,” the Spaniard continued. “So, as you know, it will be a challenge for everyone: I think there will be no two identical laps during the weekend. Every lap will be a bit better than the previous one, from FP1 to the last one of the race. We will have to adapt to this changing grip, so it will be a challenge for everyone.”
It appears to be a challenge for the perfect lap on a track to discover and constantly evolve. The key will be to prepare the car as best as possible to seize every opportunity. Above all, there must be constant communication between drivers and the pit wall to avoid impeding and monitor track conditions to achieve the perfect lap.
Source: f1ingenerale
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