Ferrari has explained how learning from a challenging weekend in Austria earlier in the 2024 Formula 1 season helped it to claim a 1-2 in the United States Grand Prix.
The Italian marque rekindled its minor prospects in the Constructors’ Championship last weekend in Austin as Charles Leclerc headed home team-mate Carlos Sainz.
Ferrari’s second 1-2 this year has seen it move to eight points behind Red Bull in second place, while leaders McLaren is another 40 points ahead with five races to go.
However, Ferrari would have been even more in the mix had it not ventured down the wrong development avenue mid-season with updates it brought to Spain in June.
The Maranello-based squad experienced unintended complications with a new floor design which prompted the team to spurn several points over the summer period.
But while upgrades in Monza have corrected that mishap, Ferrari Senior Performance Engineer Jock Clear pinpointed how that doesn’t explain the entire improvement.
Instead, Clear has highlighted how Ferrari utilised the lessons it obtained at the Red Bull Ring to make the relevant set-up alterations that contributed to its turnaround.
“There were no upgrades in Austin that were specific to Austin or were upgrades, so to speak,” Clear told media including Motorsport Week in Mexico.
“There were things we did on the set-up. And again, I think we got it wrong in Austria, which is a very similar circuit to Austin.
“Funnily enough, not absolutely true, but the aspects of Austin that worked for us were a result of what we didn’t get working in Austria.
“So effectively, the package was very similar. Obviously, we brought upgrades in Singapore. We brought upgrades in Italy that were generic.
“And I think Austin was a proof of that package.
“But more than that, what we did correctly in Austin was correct the errors we made in Austria in terms of set-up.”
Ferrari can use learnings in coming races
Clear is convinced that Ferrari’s earlier-season uncovering can also be used again across the board in the upcoming rounds, including F1’s return to Qatar next month.
Asked whether those learnings were track-specific to the Circuit of the Americas, Clear replied: “No, it’s generic. And I think we’ll take them to all of the races coming up.
“Again, Qatar is probably one where we will look back on Austin, we will look back on Austria and think,
‘okay, we really need to understand exactly what those high-speed esses were doing for us and what we can do to improve.
“But yeah, it’s all generic learning. It all helps you basically get the most out of your package.”
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