Scuderia Ferrari and Charles Leclerc are dealing with a fragile subject. Within the turbo-hybrid period, the gradual tightening of the utmost restrict on homologated energy unit and transmission parts has change into so restrictive that almost no crew has managed to remain inside these regulatory bounds with out incurring penalties throughout a System 1 season. Regardless of the spectacular reliability requirements achieved by energy unit producers, the ultimate races of this F1 championship might nonetheless compel groups to take penalties as a result of extra use of parts past the allowed restrict.
Present championship chief and probably championship winner Max Verstappen used his sixth inner combustion engine final weekend on the 4.309-kilometre Autodromo Jose Carlos Tempo in Brazil, which positioned him in the back of the beginning grid for Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Max Verstappen’s Sunday efficiency will go down in System 1 historical past; nevertheless, except for the climate situations that highlighted his expertise, the Interlagos circuit has traditionally offered overtaking alternatives. As we method spherical 22 of the 2024 System 1 marketing campaign, which is about to happen on the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada, USA, considerations are additionally rising across the energy unit sturdiness for Charles Leclerc.
To date, the 2 Ferrari drivers haven’t acquired any penalties due to environment friendly energy unit and transmission rotation. Nevertheless, the fourth full energy unit was put in on automobile quantity 16 again on the Dutch Grand Prix, which suggests seven race weekends in the past, and it has been used constantly for each the qualifying classes and the race since Zandvoort. The wet weekend in Brazil extended engine life, sparing the facility items from cooling points that may come up in dry situations.
The engines have additionally been pushed tougher by the drivers in comparison with a completely dry weekend. In earlier races, Ferrari’s technicians and engineers have taken each potential precaution to guard the integrity of energy unit 066/12. For instance, on the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, Charles Leclerc was repeatedly requested to carry out elevate and coast within the closing phases of the race, the place he had a major lead over his Maranello teammate.
In distinction, in Mexico Metropolis, the Monegasque driver struggled to maintain up with Carlos Sainz on a monitor recognized to be demanding for engines resulting from low air density. Among the many remaining circuits, Las Vegas stands out as one the place overtaking is possible. The upcoming race, set on an United States-style metropolis speedway within the playing capital, will closely rely upon engine energy.
It’s no secret that Ferrari’s ambitions are excessive for the third System 1 race on American soil. Final yr, regardless of the restrictions of an SF-23 automobile that struggled with tire administration, Charles Leclerc took pole and got here inside placing distance of Max Verstappen, who ultimately claimed the victory. With the primary situations of energy unit element utilization exceeding FIA limits, grid penalties are vital. Max Verstappen was moved again ten grid spots in Belgium and solely 5 in Brazil resulting from changing simply the V6 combustion unit.
For Charles Leclerc, this might be the primary homologation of a number of parts exceeding the utmost restrict. The Ferrari driver has reached the restrict on the next usable parts: inner combustion engine, traction management, motor generator unit-heat, motor generator unit-kinetic, vitality retailer, management electronics, gearbox case and cassette and gearbox driveline, gear, change parts and auxiliary parts. What does the sporting regulation impose when the utmost variety of homologations is exceeded?
A ten-place grid penalty for the primary time any extra component is used, i.e., the fifth inner combustion engine, traction management, motor generator unit-heat and motor generator unit-kinetic or the third management electronics or vitality retailer. For subsequent makes use of of the identical sort of element, a 5-place penalty is utilized.
The bizarre structure of the Nevada circuit provides vital overtaking alternatives, additionally permitting for the advantage of a “contemporary” unit with a bit extra energy in comparison with one with heavy mileage. Nevertheless, if the Monegasque driver had been to obtain a ten-place grid penalty — even with pole place on Saturday — he would begin from the eleventh spot. That is removed from ideally suited, particularly at a race the place Ferrari hopes to maximise factors to problem McLaren on the prime of the 2024 System 1 Constructors’ Championship.
In hindsight, the Brazilian Grand Prix would have been a more sensible choice, the place the SF-24 supplied Ferrari fewer possibilities of success. It’s unclear whether or not this alternative is as a result of mileage already used on all 4 energy items obtainable for Charles Leclerc’s automobile or if it’s a safety measure to keep away from any danger of an influence unit failure. It is usually price noting that within the batch of energy items used on automobile quantity 16, there’s the engine that skilled a noticeable energy drop in Canada, which can not have been utilized in any official session for the reason that Montreal weekend.
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