Telemetry data analysis Las Vegas FP2: Ferrari SF24 impresses in traction at Turn 12

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The Las Vegas event marks an important crossroads for the 2024 season, with the World Championship battle between drivers and constructors. While Verstappen is aiming for his fourth title and Ferrari for the Constructors’ Championship, every detail counts. However, it was Mercedes that surprised by dominating the first day of activity. Despite this, Ferrari and McLaren’s potential is high, as shown by the telemetry analysis of the FP2 session in Las Vegas.

The difficult conditions in Las Vegas somewhat masked the true performance of McLaren and Ferrari. Due to a green track and cold temperatures, the tire compounds struggled to reach the correct operating window. To address this issue, the drivers had to make several preparation laps. The clearest example is Charles Leclerc, who, on his fourth flying lap, with a lot of fuel onboard, posted a S1 time that was just 60 thousandths slower compared to Hamilton.

Turn 3, the almost non-turn

The acceleration and speed graphs show a performance advantage for Mercedes. Here, the W15, aided by the cold and low grip offered by the track, was able to extract the maximum from the tires. McLaren and Ferrari, with an unready front end, were forced to partially lift off the throttle to avoid widening their trajectory. A different story for Mercedes, which managed to carry 5/6 km/h more without disturbing the W15. This is evident in the approach to Turn 4, where Mercedes was the first to get on the throttle, unlike McLaren and Ferrari. The SF-24 also approaches the corner differently, suffering slightly from understeer. Nothing too difficult to fix with slight fine-tuning and better tire preparation.

Under the Sphere's gaze

The slow section under the sphere showcases the excellent mechanical grip of the SF-24. In sectors 7-8-9, Charles Leclerc’s car reaches the highest Vmax in the 8-9 section. With the great braking of the SF-24, Charles Leclerc manages to stop the car well, rotate it at Turn 9, and accelerate perfectly to tackle the straight leading to Turn 10.

Telemetry Analysis Turn 12 Las Vegas

Turn 12 is one of the most crucial points for preparing an overtaking maneuver on the Las Vegas circuit. The over 2 km long straight allows drivers to attempt overtakes on their opponents. Here, excellent top speed and efficient DRS are obviously essential. Despite the ultra-low downforce setup, the wings feature a movable flap that creates a significant effect.

However, to make the most of the Power Unit and aerodynamic efficiency, it is crucial to exit Turn 12 well. In the acceleration comparison, Ferrari comes out on top, as it manages to generate a significantly higher traction coefficient than Mercedes and McLaren. This is accentuated by Charles Leclerc’s ability to carry more speed by delaying his corner exit. This is a very positive sign for the SF-24’s mechanical traction, combined with a well-designed hybrid deployment strategy for the 2 km straight.

Source: f1ingenerale

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