Charles Leclerc warns Ferrari about challenge posed by low temperatures in Las Vegas
11/09/2024 10:21 AM
With the Brazilian Grand Prix at the 4.309-kilometre Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo now behind them, Ferrari has two weeks to prepare for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the final United States event of the 2024 Formula 1 season and the third-to-last round of the world Championship, with the Italian side in need of a great result for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the 6.2-kilometre Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada to be able to reduce the gap against McLaren and continue to believe in the dream of winning the World Constructors’ Championship this year.
In Brazil, the Ferrari SF-24 cars were more on the defensive considering the characteristics of the Interlagos circuit, but Las Vegas offers a different landscape where Ferrari's strengths might come into play, potentially helping the Scuderia to close part of the 36-point gap from McLaren in the Constructors’ standings ahead of the final two races of the season. Last year, Ferrari showed solid form even in a season dominated by Red Bull, and expectations are even higher this year. Still, some concerns emerged following the Brazilian Grand Prix that cannot be overlooked.
Charles Leclerc, while hopeful of a competitive showing in Las Vegas, pointed to an issue that might complicate matters for Ferrari, namely cold temperatures. Already in Brazil, the SF-24 struggled to get tires up to temperature, an issue that may reappear next week on American soil.
“We were competitive in Charles Vegas last year, so I hope for the same this year,” Charles Leclerc stated. “However, we've made great strides in tire management this season, which might mean we're missing something in cold track conditions. We'll likely encounter similar conditions in Vegas as in Brazil. We hope the two weeks between Brazil and Vegas will allow us to prepare for the American race at an optimal level, even though tires will be a challenge. The track characteristics, though, should favor the SF-24." – he pointed out.
Ferrari's improved tire management with the 2024 Formula 1 car could potentially work against them in certain conditions. However, Charles Leclerc, while cautious, still sees opportunities for Ferrari to be on the offensive in Las Vegas and at the season finale at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.
"So, I have mixed feelings about Vegas. I think we could be as strong as we were last year, but I also think we'll struggle more to get the tires into the ideal window. I'm ultimately more optimistic than not and genuinely believe we can perform well in Nevada. I believe Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi are two tracks where the SF-24 can shine. Unfortunately, I think Qatar will be tougher for us, where we'll need to focus on damage control. But we still have three races to go, and we hope to make the most of them.” – the Ferrari driver concluded.
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