F1 | Ferrari: was little battery used in the first sector?

What happened to Ferrari? The Scuderia suffered in the first sector of the Imola track, proving to be less performing than Red Bull and McLaren both in qualifying and in the race. The initial sensation was that the problem came from the preparation lap, but the drivers, both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, did not hesitate to underline that the difficulties at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari may have emerged due to an inadequate strategy of the hybrid in the section of the track where maximum power must be expressed.

Charles Leclerc, after qualifying, focused his attention on the tyres: “We don’t understand what we’re missing in turns 2 and 3 or more generally in the first sector. Rubber preparation is important, but something is strange. We tried many different things, but the same problem always emerged.”

We said it before the Emilian trip that the Enzo e Dino Ferrari certainly did not represent the best track to enhance the qualities of the new package of updates, but after the 63 laps of the race the doubts about the set-up, the inability to attack the curbs with the same vehemence of Max Verstappen and the two McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with a slightly less contractive suspension than the competition, the legitimate doubt arose that the SF-24 was not using enough battery in T1.

“Looking at the data – said Charles after the race – there is something that Red Bull and McLaren do strange regarding the engine strategy and this makes us lose all the time from the others on the straight. Then in the corners we are as fast as them, if not faster. So we will have to analyze that aspect. Once we get that sorted out, I think we’ll be in the race. We have to get the qualification right. What happened yesterday is now quite clear to us.”

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

The division of electrical energy can be modified track by track depending on the characteristics of the track: the doubt is that the use of the hybrid was not aimed at seeking better performance in the first fast part of the track, paying something in the comparison with Honda and Mercedes. The sum of the two factors (more hybrid setup) may have determined a gap that was felt more than expected in Imola.

Ferrari must not lose its edge, because in a “negative” weekend it put Leclerc on the third step of the podium and the placing earned the Monegasque second place in the drivers’ championship ahead of Sergio Perez. The new look of the SF-24 did not allow it to make the leap to undermine Red Bull and Ferrari, but when you pay just over a tenth a lap it is difficult to think that there is anything wrong. Compared to the gap at the beginning of the season, the gap has significantly narrowed.

In Maranello they have to keep pushing to close the (small) gap between the two cars that are currently in front. Imola does not give a definitive sentence, but opens a path of hope for Cavallino fans. And maybe something more will be seen in the Principality…