P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Suzuka chicane struggles leaves Ferrari F1 team scratching its head
Ferrari was hopeful that their advancements with the SF-24 would make them a strong competitor against Red Bull at Suzuka due to improvements in corner speeds. Despite narrowing the gap to Red Bull from 0.665 seconds to 0.485 seconds, there was a sense of dissatisfaction, especially in slow-speed turns where Ferrari traditionally excels. Analysis revealed that the majority of the time gap to Red Bull was in slow-speed areas, particularly in the hairpin and chicane sections. Even minor differences matter in the highly competitive F1 grid, prompting Ferrari to focus on understanding and improving their performance in these crucial areas. Ferrari team principal highlighted the importance of addressing issues in the last corner for better traction, essential for the race. Charles Leclerc suggested that their struggles might stem from a mismatch between car characteristics and Suzuka’s demands.
