Ferrari falls behind in its last two races.
Ferrari acknowledges the need to “broaden our perspective” and make adjustments to its 2024 Formula 1 car in order to be competitive on all tracks.
The Italian team started the season positively, with its revamped SF-24 car securing nine podium finishes and two wins in the first eight races.
However, Ferrari’s good start was interrupted in Canada, where they struggled to generate enough heat in their tires, resulting in both cars being eliminated in Q2 and a double retirement.
Jock Clear, Ferrari’s senior performance engineer, admitted that the team was surprised by the difficulties faced in Canada, but drew parallels with their difficulties in China under similar weather conditions.
“Montreal was challenging. We didn’t anticipate any problems, so we were puzzled at times,” Clear said during the weekend in Spain.
“On Friday, we thought we were quite competitive and looked good on intermediate tires. But when it dried up for qualifying, we just didn’t have the performance.
“The underlying performance wasn’t up to our expectations.
“When we reviewed the situation afterwards and compared it to China, we started to see a pattern. When the track is wet and cold, we are relatively disadvantaged compared to others. And it’s this relative disadvantage that makes all the difference.
“Unfortunately, our simulations don’t take into account wet tracks. We can only compare ourselves to other teams.
“In Canada, Charles missed out on Q3 by a margin of five hundredths of a second or something like that. These small errors can have a big impact.
“If you reach Q3, the track will already be a little drier or a little hotter, and suddenly you can qualify in fourth place and think, ‘oh, it’s all good’.”
“But it’s these small margins that, as soon as the track is cold, we simply don’t have the performance we would normally expect in Q3.”
Ferrari’s response to their disappointing performance in Canada was to accelerate a substantial upgrade package for Barcelona. However, once again, the team found themselves falling behind their main competitors.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secured the third row on the grid, but were unable to make progress during the race as a Red Bull, a McLaren, and both Mercedes drivers remained ahead.
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur attributed their difficulties to the characteristics of the circuit and emphasized the importance of track position in determining the overall race result.
The Maranello team managed to solve their tire degradation problems, but encountered issues with single lap pace. Leclerc admitted that the team has not yet found the right balance.
When asked if it was too simplistic to connect these two factors, Leclerc replied, “No, probably not. I mean, I can let you draw that conclusion. I think that’s always the challenge. In Formula 1, everything is a trade-off.”
He added: “Obviously, we recognize that Red Bull seems to have found a better balance than everyone else, as they have been dominant in most races in the last two years. However, their dominance is now starting to decrease. In certain circuits where they are not completely comfortable, they can be defeated on merit, not just by luck. This indicates that even those who got it right last year are now having to readjust and narrow their focus on development, which means they no longer have the ideal compromise.”
Leclerc concluded by stating: “We still need to find the ideal compromise because when we compete in colder circuits at the moment, we must acknowledge that we are not as strong as we should be. Therefore, we need to broaden our perspective and consider a wider range of options for the car.”
© 2024
The World Cup is coming to an end and fans are eager to see who will be crowned the champion. The competition has been exciting so far, with many thrilling games and surprises. In this edition, some teams have surprised and exceeded expectations, while others have fallen short. However, only one team can emerge victorious and lift the trophy.
The final will be contested between the Brazil and Germany national teams. Both teams have a long history in football and are known for their talent and skill. The Brazilian team is led by their captain, Neymar, who has been a force to be reckoned with in this tournament. He has scored several goals and helped his team reach the final. On the other hand, Germany has a solid and well-organized team, with players like Müller and Kroos showcasing their talent on the field.
Fans are eager to see how this final will unfold. Both teams have talented players who can make a difference in a game. Additionally, the rivalry between Brazil and Germany in football is well known, especially after the 2014 World Cup, when Germany defeated Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals. This game became a landmark in football history and Brazilians hope to avenge this defeat.
The game promises to be exciting and action-packed. Both teams are willing to give their best to win the title. Fans are eager to see who will emerge victorious and which team will write their name in football history. It will be an exciting and unforgettable final.
Stay tuned for more updates on the World Cup and don’t miss the full coverage of the final between Brazil and Germany. It will be a game you won’t want to miss!
