Race pace analysis FP1 Austin: Ferrari confident, but few indicators

by Matteo Piva

In the only practice session, there were few indications regarding race pace. McLaren looks solid, Ferrari interesting, Red Bull uncertain.

We have arrived at the fourth Sprint weekend of the season, and this means there will only be one practice session, making it crucial for any potential setup adjustments after the simulator studies conducted by the teams. Ferrari appeared to be in good form right from the start, both on hard and softer tires, although this aspect was not fully confirmed in the Sprint Shootout, where Max Verstappen secured pole position.

A key aspect to consider this weekend is certainly the resurfacing carried out on the Austin circuit. In 2023, with the same format as this year, the asphalt received numerous criticisms from drivers, mainly due to the bumps, which caused significant damage to the car floors. This led, for example, to the disqualification of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in the Sunday race.

For the twelfth edition of the Austin Grand Prix, Pirelli has chosen to bring the C2, C3, and C4 tires, which are essentially the mid-range of the five compounds available. In particular, attention must be paid to tire degradation on this track: in 2023, most drivers made two pit stops. However, the resurfacing is also an important factor, as we do not know the grip and degradation levels that the new asphalt will provide.

Carlos Sainz at the wheel of the Ferrari during FP1. The Spanish driver expressed confidence ahead of the race.

Race pace analysis FP1 Austin: here are the times!

All teams opted for a brief race pace simulation before heading out on track with the Soft tires for the qualifying simulation. In particular, the most used compound was the C2, the Hard, chosen by 16 drivers; Red Bull opted for the C4, while Stake differentiated the programs for the two drivers, with Guanyu Zhou using the C4 tire and Valtteri Bottas using the C3.

An important premise to consider is the difference in programs and fuel loads: as often happens during Sprint weekends, some teams likely focused on the “shorter race”, while others on Sunday’s race. However, we don’t know the exact fuel quantities loaded during this simulation.

The first team to perform long runs was Williams with Franco Colapinto, who was very consistent, consistently lapping in the 1:38 range. Given yesterday’s positive qualifying session, the Grove team could be a pleasant surprise this weekend, positioning themselves as contenders for the last points-scoring positions.

Race pace analysis FP1 Austin: long run times (part 1)

As for Ferrari, the race simulation was brief but with very positive times: Sainz was very consistent, completing 4 laps within a tenth of each other, while Leclerc posted faster but more inconsistent laps. Nevertheless, the Spanish driver showed great confidence to Sky Sport after the Sprint Shootout, stating: “In the end, our qualifying pace is what it is. The race pace, however, is a different story; we’ll see if we can make a comeback.”

McLaren, on the other hand, seemed a bit troubled in the qualifying lap, although Oscar Piastri’s elimination in SQ1 was marred by a track limit violation in the penultimate corner. However, in terms of race pace, the Woking car proved to be very consistent, as it has been in recent weekends, primarily with Lando Norris, who cannot afford to lose points in order to capitalize on the extraordinary comeback against Max Verstappen.

Race pace analysis FP1 Austin: long run times (part 2)
Race pace analysis FP1 Austin: long run times (part 2)

The program of Red Bull was completely different: the Austrian team first carried out a qualifying simulation on a not-so-great track, then dedicated the last 10 minutes of the session to a race pace simulation with Soft tires. However, the times seem to be indicative of a potential first stint in Sunday’s race and are therefore not comparable to those of other teams. Nonetheless, we certainly expect Max Verstappen to be in the fight for the win.

PHOTO: GPKingdom, Scuderia Ferrari HP.

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