Charles Leclerc believes the progress Ferrari has made on its tyre administration this 12 months may really hinder the staff’s probabilities at Method 1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
After a 2023 marketing campaign by which Ferrari struggled with tyre put on and overheating, the chilly circumstances at Las Vegas really turned Ferrari’s speedy tyre warm-up right into a energy, with Leclerc and Carlos Sainz locking out the entrance row.
Whereas Sainz fought again to sixth after taking a grid penalty, Leclerc regarded good worth to take his first and solely win of the season till an sadly timed security automotive worn out his benefit and allowed Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen to take management.
Ferrari’s superior traction, which stood it in good stead on the Las Vegas Strip circuit, remains to be certainly one of its robust fits this 12 months.
However Ferrari has since dramatically improved its tyre put on points and race tempo basically, which has made it aggressive on a variety of circuits and saved it within the hunt for the constructors’ championship.
After Ferrari struggled for tempo within the Brazilian Grand Prix on a moist and colder Interlagos circuit, Leclerc believes that the Scuderia’s enchancment in tyre behaviour might really imply it’s not as robust anymore in chilly circumstances.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Photograph by: Ferrari
“We have been very robust final 12 months, so I hope we might be as robust,” Leclerc.
“It’s true additionally, and I used to be eager about that earlier, that this 12 months we have carried out an enormous step in tyre administration, which implies that we additionally left one thing behind in chilly circumstances and tyre temperatures similar to as we speak [at Sao Paulo] was. Las Vegas is a little bit of that situation as nicely.
“So, let’s hope we are able to work in these two weeks to arrange it correctly and be at an excellent stage in Las Vegas. We have been very robust final 12 months; the traits of the observe are higher for our automotive. Nonetheless, suppose it is perhaps a bit trickier for us to place these within the [right] temperatures.”
Ferrari remains to be anticipating Qatar to be its Achilles heel in comparison with McLaren, which excels by Losail high-speed corners, as each groups struggle for the constructors’ title.
“Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi are the 2 races the place I feel we are able to do nicely,” he added. “Sadly, I feel that Qatar can be a bit tougher and will probably be extra about injury limitation.
“But it surely’s nonetheless three races to go, and hopefully we are able to take advantage of out of it and beat McLaren.”
After seeing the hole to McLaren develop to 46 factors in Sao Paulo, Sainz added: “We can be alive till the very finish.
“We’ve three weekends now arising which can be going to be vital for the entire staff and now we have to refocus, regroup and see how we are able to strategy these final three races in the absolute best approach.”