It’s a bitter second place for Scuderia Ferrari on the 6.003-kilometre Baku Metropolis Circuit. Even earlier than any evaluation or evaluations, it was clear from Charles Leclerc’s expression. Within the Monegasque driver’s case, physique language is at all times an open e-book, accessible to everybody, and final Sunday it was clear simply how a lot the second place within the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was unsatisfactory for him.
Pole place, main for 19 laps, then the overtaking by Oscar Piastri, which swapped the roles. The Australian turned the hare, whereas Charles Leclerc turned the hunter with a number of arrows in his quiver to show issues round once more. However lap after lap, as Oscar Piastri’s masterpiece took form, Charles Leclerc’s bitterness grew progressively: as soon as once more, victory in Baku wouldn’t be his.
But, the primary stint of the race had despatched a transparent sign. After sustaining the lead, the Ferrari driver managed the primary 5 laps with Oscar Piastri within the DRS zone, then he began to tug away. A progressive escape that led him to construct a six-second hole by the fourteenth lap. A robust signal. On lap 15, Oscar Piastri pitted to modify from medium to laborious tires, a transfer that Ferrari instantly lined on the next lap. By lap 17, Oscar Piastri crossed the end line simply over a second behind the Ferrari SF-24 of Charles Leclerc: so what occurred?
The reply lies within the out-lap. The Australian accomplished his out-lap in 2.03.253, whereas Charles Leclerc did it in 2.06.071. The directions given to Charles Leclerc by the Maranello workforce had been clear, which was to care for the tires in the course of the out-lap, however the nearly three-second distinction signifies both a really aggressive begin by Oscar Piastri or an extra of warning by Charles Leclerc.
The numbers recommend extra of the primary speculation, provided that even Carlos Sainz’s out-lap, which was a 2.05.361, was not far off Charles Leclerc’s time, however Oscar Piastri didn’t undergo any setbacks from his very quick begin to the stint. With the McLaren shut behind, Charles Leclerc held on for 2 laps, however was then caught off guard by Oscar Piastri’s assault.
“Right this moment we misplaced the win for 2 causes,” admitted Charles Leclerc on the finish of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – “The primary was the administration of the tires throughout our out-lap after the pit cease. We anticipated it to take everybody a very long time to get the laborious tires as much as temperature, however that wasn’t the case for McLaren, who instantly introduced their tires into the proper working window and gained numerous time. The second was not combating more durable with Oscar when he overtook me. I knew we had a protracted race forward, and my aim was to protect the tires, keep inside DRS vary, and overtake him later.” – the Monegasque driver defined.
“Clearly, we underestimated their straight-line velocity at the moment,” Charles Leclerc concluded, “as they used a setup with much less aerodynamic drag than ours, which made them too quick for us to aim an overtake. General, it wasn’t the perfect day for our workforce, however we’ll go to Singapore much more decided.”
The optimistic facet for Charles Leclerc is that he managed to carry onto second place, which was nearly misplaced with two laps to go. Along with his rear tires in disaster, Charles was compelled to sluggish his lap instances by over a second, permitting the Perez-Sainz duo to shut in behind him. The contact between the 2 ended the dangers for Leclerc and the race itself, which was frozen underneath a digital security automotive till the checkered flag.
The incident added 4 factors to McLaren’s haul from this race, costing Ferrari and Crimson Bull 11 and 12 factors, respectively. If at Monza Ferrari had collected greater than the automotive would have allowed on a purely technical entrance, the impression on the Baku metropolis circuit is that the potential of the automotive was not transformed into the factors that had been inside attain.
“We had been in all probability a bit too conservative firstly of the second stint,” admitted Frederic Vasseur, “and having to drive in soiled air was troublesome for Charles, who ended up damaging his laborious tires. We depart Baku with a end result beneath expectations, nevertheless it was good to see that, like at Monza, we had been battling with McLaren and had been aggressive. We have to keep targeted and preserve combating as a result of there are nonetheless many races to go.” – the French supervisor concluded.
Sep 16, 2024
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