P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sainz: Better F1 car the biggest factor behind Ferrari strategy jump
At the recent Japanese Grand Prix, Ferrari received accolades for its smart strategic decisions, with Charles Leclerc executing a successful one-stop strategy to advance from eighth to fourth place. Carlos Sainz also capitalized on a longer second stint on medium tires, allowing him to finish third by utilizing fresher hard tires for a final stint to overtake four rivals. Sainz noted the improvements in Ferrari’s strategic department over the past few seasons but attributed the significant advancements to the superior and more consistent race pace of the SF-24 car. The team’s progress in overcoming race performance challenges from the previous year has enabled Leclerc and Sainz to better execute strategies, a stark contrast to when they struggled to maintain positions despite strong qualifying performances. With a faster car that manages tires effectively, Ferrari now possesses the flexibility necessary for successful race strategies and is no longer hampered by excessive tire degradation that hindered their performance in the past.
