Heading to Austin, the ultimate quarter of the season begins, with three extra Dash weekends nonetheless to return. For each Ferrari and Crimson Bull, the best problem lies within the Dash format on one of the technical tracks of the yr. The significance just isn’t solely within the additional factors obtainable but in addition within the issue of discovering the optimum setup in simply 60 minutes of free observe. Crimson Bull, which has appeared sluggish to seek out its rhythm throughout weekends, known as upon to make one other step ahead to maintain Max Verstappen’s formidable championship comeback alive. The identical applies to Ferrari, which has struggled in latest weekends to place the troubled SF-25 on observe successfully.
Texas selection
Added to the calendar in 2012, the Austin circuit rapidly grew to become a favourite amongst each drivers and followers. The explanations are a number of, together with its extraordinarily different format that poses each a driving and setup problem. Instantly after the enduring climb to Flip 1, the observe dives into the technical first sector, dominated by a violent sequence of path modifications. The preliminary succession of sharp, high-speed corners favors Verstappen’s Crimson Bull, which has usually seemed superior to McLaren in these circumstances. In direction of the tip of the sector, nevertheless, speeds drop regularly to 150-200 km/h, getting into the medium-speed vary, which has emerged as a powerful level for the papaya automobiles.
After the lengthy central straight, the third sector modifications once more, dominated by low-speed areas, aside from the triple corners 16-17-18. In whole, there are 5 factors on the observe the place speeds drop beneath 100 km/h, outlining a circuit with all kinds of corners, making it very troublesome to discover a steadiness with out compromises between excessive and low-speed sections. Attaining this in Austin is significantly tougher than in Baku or Singapore, that are extra homogeneous tracks on this respect — a context that favors McLaren’s longer “blanket” efficiency.
Crimson Bull’s double problem
Max Verstappen’s mission is to get well extra factors on Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, realizing that any setback would wipe out the delicate championship hopes revived in September. Crimson Bull has proven enchancment even on non-low-downforce tracks, and after beating the McLarens in Singapore — which on paper ought to have been favorable territory for the MCL39 — the group has sturdy causes to goal to repeat the efficiency on a smoother observe like Austin. Nevertheless, beginning on the entrance might not be sufficient for the RB21, which is able to then need to handle important tire degradation on a observe that provides a number of overtaking alternatives.
A lot may even rely upon how Pirelli’s try to favor two-stop methods evolves. The Italian firm is bringing again the C3 and C4 compounds from final yr, however this time the toughest tire would be the C1, skipping the C2 within the hope of constructing the arduous much less enticing and inspiring groups to give attention to gentle and medium. Understanding which compounds to focus on rapidly shall be essential, as groups should plan tire administration between the 2 races and the double qualifying.
All of this should be executed within the single observe session, which constitutes one other main maturity check for Crimson Bull. Beneath Laurent Mekies’ path, the group has shifted its strategy, giving extra emphasis to trace suggestions somewhat than digital simulations for setup selections. In latest occasions, the RB21 has typically reached qualifying on the restrict, making leaps from Friday to Saturday based mostly on first-day suggestions — a luxurious that Austin’s frantic Dash format won’t enable.
Ferrari seeks a response
Ferrari is trying to emerge from its disaster on the identical observe the place it celebrated a 1-2 in 2024, additionally marking Charles Leclerc’s final victory so far. The boundaries of the SF-25 are well-known, however in latest weekends the group has struggled even to maximise the automotive’s modest potential. On a number of events, observe suggestions didn’t match predictions, forcing changes to experience heights and requiring setup reversals resulting from driver dissatisfaction.
To bounce again, the precedence for the Scuderia is to reach in Texas with a strong setup base that enables the SF-25 to carry out optimally with out shedding competitiveness over the weekend. For Ferrari as nicely, the Dash is a check that may additional highlight execution, particularly concerning how the brand new tire is exploited in qualifying with restricted alternatives to check it. If the group can deliver the whole lot collectively, it may then leverage its strengths on race tempo and tire administration on a circuit the place these components are extra important than in Baku and Singapore. All this, nevertheless, relies on avoiding one other brake-cooling miscalculation, which in Marina Bay pressured Leclerc and Hamilton right into a nightmare Sunday.
Mercedes’ warning
Mercedes comes off George Russell’s stunning win in Singapore, because of a number of components, together with cautious observe program planning and work on the brake ducts to restrict rear tire overheating. The W16 has proven indicators of general enchancment, aided by the gradual refinement of setup selections following the summer time return to the previous rear suspension.
Austin will check the Silver Arrows’ progress, however observe engineering head Andrew Shovlin tempers expectations: “The circuits the place we did nicely, notably the place we gained this yr, like Montreal and Singapore, have been comparatively low-speed tracks. […] We haven’t had the identical competitiveness on circuits with many high-speed sections; that’s in all probability an space the place we’ve struggled a bit.” The priority is that the quick preliminary chicane may expose the W16’s shortcomings in high-speed corners, calling for warning. In any case, even in Singapore the percentages have been in opposition to Mercedes, and their victory underscored how a lot good execution could make a distinction, particularly in a busy weekend just like the one scheduled in Austin.
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