Was Baku a missed alternative for Scuderia Ferrari to safe one other race victory after the Monza spherical or somewhat a hit constructed by Oscar Piastri? It looks like a easy query, however in actuality, there are numerous solutions and faculties of thought. Undoubtedly, after a primary a part of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix largely dominated from pole place, Ferrari and Charles Leclerc’s ambition needed to be to capitalize and produce dwelling the consequence.
The decisive second was undoubtedly the pit stops, together with the in-lap and out-lap, which brought on Charles Leclerc to lose his six-second lead, permitting the McLaren driver to shut in and make the overtake that modified the course of the Baku race. After discussing how these seconds disappeared over only a few kilometers, there’s one other fascinating facet to delve into: how Oscar Piastri managed to defend the place he had gained after round twenty laps.
Having taken the lead of the race with a superb braking transfer into flip one, which Charles Leclerc didn’t resist in hopes of overtaking later with DRS, the Australian launched into a special race, managed with excessive calm, as a result of remaining underneath stress for over twenty laps on a observe like Baku, the place errors are all the time lurking, is definitely no straightforward achievement.
“For me, attempting to maintain Charles behind was extremely hectic. I couldn’t make a single mistake. I made a pair, however on a observe like Baku, it’s not possible to drive at 100% and never make any errors. I used to be fortunate they weren’t severe sufficient to price me the victory. The 30 laps the place I attempted to maintain Charles behind had been extremely tough,” mentioned Oscar Piastri on the finish of the race. The Australian driver’s ice-cold demeanor was simply one of many causes he was in a position to construct this victory.
Within the hours following the Baku occasion, there was a lot speak about McLaren’s versatile wing, particularly the truth that it might create a kind of hole between the mainplane and the movable flap, making a mini DRS impact. A side price analyzing, however there are much more concrete causes that allowed the Australian to defend and maintain off Charles Leclerc’s stress for almost thirty laps.
One of many essential elements the place McLaren has improved over the previous two years is indisputably within the traction section, an space the place it beforehand confirmed some weaknesses in comparison with its rivals. Nevertheless, it’s not all the time straightforward to handle the rear axle, particularly when a collection of things come into play, akin to rising observe floor temperatures, the qualifying lap, and the usage of the C5 tire, the softest within the vary. This was a difficulty that additionally got here up in Baku through the qualifying lap, the place managing the rear finish is essential, and on this space, Charles Leclerc was a grasp.
Within the race, nonetheless, the scenario modified barely. On one hand, the usage of more durable tires allowed McLaren to discover a good steadiness, whereas on the opposite, the truth that Charles Leclerc stayed in soiled air for thus lengthy, regardless of probably having a greater tempo, meant that his rear tires suffered from the pressure, placing him in problem in direction of the tip. As seen in different rounds of the 2024 Formulation 1 championship, though there may be nonetheless work to be executed in excessive temperatures, the Woking group has managed to discover a pretty efficient compromise when it comes to rear suspension stiffness to be aggressive each in quick corners and in traction.
Nevertheless, there are three key moments the place this made the distinction, beginning with the second Oscar Piastri’s overtake modified the course of the race.
At that time within the race, the Monegasque driver was struggling to search out grip with the more durable tire, which was additionally evident in his exit from the final nook, completely arrange by Oscar Piastri. This can be a elementary challenge, as a result of in actuality, Ferrari’s prime speeds with DRS closed had been akin to McLaren’s, however Charles Leclerc’s problem with traction and the additional time he wanted to achieve the identical pace on the finish of the straight opened the door for the Australian’s try. If the Monegasque had one way or the other coated the within, it will have undoubtedly been a lot more durable for the McLaren driver to make the assault, however trying on the scenario total, it was that battle in traction that created the chance resulting in the victory.
“I couldn’t be very aggressive. My tires had been nonetheless chilly. I used to be actually struggling to get them as much as temperature. I believed it wouldn’t be an issue if he handed me at that time within the race, as a result of it was nonetheless lengthy, and DRS would assist me keep shut. As soon as my tires had been as much as temperature, I might overtake him once more. However, as I mentioned, it was a misjudgment on my half,” the Ferrari driver defined.
At sure moments through the second stint, as Charles Leclerc himself defined, the Monegasque felt he probably had one thing further when it comes to tempo. The truth is, on a number of events, the quantity 16 Ferrari got here near overtaking, even with a pace delta just like the one Oscar Piastri used to overhaul Charles Leclerc, round 20 kilometers per hour. Nevertheless, between that try and people Charles Leclerc made, there was all the time a giant distinction: the ultimate nook.
As seen earlier than, Oscar Piastri typically managed to realize these essential meters in traction exiting the ultimate nook, as may be seen within the lap 30 graph, stretching simply sufficient in order that Charles Leclerc might solely get alongside on the skin however couldn’t full the maneuver earlier than the braking zone. The Australian all the time defended excellently, masking the within line with out compromising an excessive amount of on flip one. This work started within the fort part, positioned within the second sector, the place soiled air impacts the automotive behind essentially the most.
“I attempted to take a variety of dangers within the fort part, as a result of I wanted to shut the hole from flip 7 to the remainder of the lap. And sure, I had a few shut calls within the fort part and at flip 15. That’s the place I attempted to be fast and clearly exit properly from the final nook,” Oscar Piastri recounted.
It’s no coincidence that Charles Leclerc got here underneath assault from Sergio Perez on the finish solely when his tires, particularly the rears which had been pushed to the restrict all through the second stint, had been utterly worn out: Crimson Bull undoubtedly has an efficient DRS, however the important distinction in traction was the much more decisive ingredient in facilitating the try, though the overtake didn’t materialize because of Charles Leclerc’s robust protection.
“When Oscar handed me, I used to be pretty calm within the automotive. I centered on tire administration. After 10 or 15 laps, I believed all the things was settling down and possibly in direction of the tip we’d be in a greater place. However with the soiled air, I believe for 20 or 25 laps in direction of the tip of the race, my tires had been utterly gone,” Charles Leclerc added.
Sep 17, 2024
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