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Carlos Sainz Fumes Over Ferrari’s Disobedient SF-24 as Sprint Qualifying Exposes Understeer Woes

Simon Monroy by Simon Monroy
November 29, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Carlos Sainz Fumes Over Ferrari’s Disobedient SF-24 as Sprint Qualifying Exposes Understeer Woes

Formula One F1 - Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - November 29, 2024 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. after sprint qualifying REUTERS/Jakub Porzycki

Carlos Sainz expressed deep frustration with the stubborn behavior of Ferrari’s SF-24 during the Sprint Qualifying session at the Qatar Grand Prix, describing the car’s disobedience as a major hindrance to his and Ferrari’s efforts. Sainz, who qualified fourth for the Sprint Race, faced significant understeer issues that plagued his laps around the high-speed Lusail International Circuit.


Ferrari’s Missed Opportunity Against McLaren

Heading into the Qatar weekend, Ferrari was poised for a fierce battle with McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing by just 24 points. Lusail’s high-speed corners were thought to favor the McLarens, but Ferrari’s recent improvements in pace had raised hopes of a strong showing. However, Sainz and Charles Leclerc were unable to challenge McLaren’s front-row lockout in Sprint Qualifying, with Leclerc finishing fifth.


Sainz: “We picked up a lot of understeer”

The Spanish driver was visibly unhappy with how the SF-24 handled during his runs, pointing out the persistent understeer that hampered his performance on both the medium and soft tires.

Carlos Sainz:
“We picked up a lot of understeer on the medium and just couldn’t turn the car. Even on the softs, the issue remained. It’s frustrating because we need every point we can get.”

Despite qualifying ahead of Leclerc, Sainz’s struggles signal deeper problems for Ferrari’s setup, particularly at a time when the team can ill afford any missteps in its battle for second place in the Constructors’ Championship.


Fred Vasseur: “We weren’t expecting this much understeer”

Team Principal Fred Vasseur admitted Ferrari’s performance in Sprint Qualifying was a far cry from the promise shown during FP1, where Leclerc topped the timesheets. He pointed to unexpected understeer as the primary culprit behind the team’s drop in form.

Fred Vasseur:
“We weren’t expecting this much understeer. The car felt much better in FP1. Of course, it had a huge impact on our qualifying because you lose a lot of lap time like that. The understeer increases with the grip, so it was more noticeable in SQ3 on the soft tire.”

Vasseur’s comments hint at setup miscalculations that may have amplified the SF-24’s struggles on a track where balance and responsiveness are critical.


McLaren Tightens Its Grip on the Constructors’ Championship

With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri securing first and third, respectively, for the Sprint Race, McLaren continues to maintain its edge over Ferrari. Each lost point for the Scuderia could prove critical as the championship nears its conclusion.


What’s Next for Ferrari?

The challenges at Lusail paint a grim picture for Ferrari’s remaining two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, both tracks expected to favor McLaren’s high-speed performance. Sainz’s and Leclerc’s results in the Sprint Race will be pivotal as every point becomes crucial in Ferrari’s uphill battle to reclaim championship glory.

Unless Ferrari can quickly resolve the understeer issues and optimize the SF-24’s setup, the trophy may be destined for Woking, extending the Italian giant’s title drought to 16 years.

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