The Dash weekend returns in Austin, which implies that Friday will function just one free observe session adopted by the Dash Shootout qualifying. Right here’s the dwell protection of FP1 from the Circuit of the Americas.
This primary free observe session will likely be essential, as all groups may have only one hour to arrange for the Dash qualifying and to outline the right way to method the next two days. Throughout FP1, groups will collect a considerable amount of knowledge, particularly concerning tire degradation, which is predicted to play a key position all through the weekend.
Even in October, Austin experiences excessive temperatures, and the FIA has already warned of attainable excessive warmth, much like Singapore, with forecasts exceeding 30°C. Final yr, monitor temperatures reached 29°C, however this time, the asphalt may very well be even hotter, turning tire administration into an actual problem. Understanding how shortly the tires degrade throughout FP1, each on high and low gasoline masses, will due to this fact be important for each workforce on the grid.
Comply with the dwell protection of FP1 from the US Grand Prix in Austin, beginning at 19:30 Central European Time, to seek out out the primary updates and technical insights from the weekend.
The traits of COTA
The Circuit of the Americas (COTA), positioned in Austin, Texas, is 5.513 kilometers lengthy and runs in an anti-clockwise route for a complete of 56 laps, that includes 20 corners — 11 to the left and 9 to the best. Opened in 2012, the monitor is legendary for its elevation adjustments, notably the 41-meter climb resulting in Flip 1, which has turn out to be one in all its most iconic options. The official lap file belongs to Charles Leclerc, who set a 1:36.169 in 2019.
At COTA, the best technique could make a distinction of greater than half a second per lap. Pirelli has highlighted that tire degradation in Austin is among the many highest of the season as a result of mixture of high-speed corners, abrasive asphalt, and excessive monitor temperatures that may exceed 45°C. For that reason, the two-stop technique — sometimes medium/laborious/medium — stays the best method.
Those that have tried a one-stop technique previously have typically been compelled to alter plans after round 20 laps as a result of a pointy drop in efficiency. With a pit cease time lack of round 20.5 seconds, stopping at Austin just isn’t notably expensive, which makes managing tempo over three stints extra handy than attempting to stretch a single one.
Pirelli’s forecasts for 2024 verify this development: a one-stop technique (medium/laborious) is barely attainable beneath preferrred circumstances, whereas the two-stop method (medium/laborious/medium) gives the very best steadiness between tire administration, degradation, and race tempo. For that reason, the undercut typically proves decisive at COTA. Recent tires present a right away benefit, gaining greater than a second within the first laps after the cease.
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