Carlos Sainz hopes Barcelona turns out to be an untrue track for the Ferrari SF-24. Ferrari looked to bounce back from a disastrous outing in Canada with a package of updates intended to complement the update introduced from Imola.
Despite the newcomers showing encouraging speed in the final free practice session, both Sainz and Charles Leclerc were unable to match their rivals and finished on the third row. Even in the race, Ferrari was unable to make inroads: Carlos struggled with degradation and finished in sixth place, while Leclerc took the checkered flag in fifth place.
After starting the season as Red Bull's most consistent challenger, Ferrari has slipped behind McLaren and now Mercedes. There is something to be worried about.
Sainz, very honestly, said that Ferrari was behind the W15 in Barcelona. “In the race I was a tenth or two slower than Russell. Charles mirrored what Hamilton did and was a tenth or two slower. Obviously, Red Bull and McLaren are clearly one step ahead. It wasn't our best weekend”.
“Montmelò was the track where we struggled the most last year too. So, this is a bit of our hope, that it is just a track that has given false values and that there will be other tracks where we will be a little more competitive. Competitive enough to fight for victories with Red Bull and McLaren? I do not know. But certainly more competitive“.
Ferrari SF-24: the problem is the support curves
Sainz revealed after qualifying that Ferrari's biggest problem stemmed from recurring bouncing in high-speed corners. “For me it's the high speed nature of the tracks with long corners combined that puts us in difficulty“. China, Suzuka, Barcelona, therefore. But even Silverstone could remain indigestible to SF-24.
“When you spend a lot of time in high-speed corners… That's where we were weak last year and that's where we're still weak this year. This still remains our priority for development”. For this reason, perhaps, Spielberg is less worrying given his characteristics: read here.
Sainz added that the deficit is accentuated when degradation comes into play. Fresh rubber mitigates problems: “We have a very open balance, especially once the tire declines in performance. At that point you struggle more, that's why the race is always difficult to manage“.
Sainz denied he was worried that the porpoising which risks triggering at high speed at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone: “We suffered more in Barcelona last year and also in 2022. So, it's kind of the track where we tend to suffer the most. I remember that Austria wasn't a problem due to the characteristics of the track and perhaps the asphalt. And Silverstone has come back to us a bit, so we'll see where these cars are this year.".
Crediti foto: Scuderia Ferrari HP