What are the values on the field that emerged from the Sprint of the 2024 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, won by Max Verstappen?
April 20, 2024
Lhe enjoyable Sprint of the 2024 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix had the usual winner, Max Verstappen. But what are the values on the field outlined by Saturday’s lightning race? As always happens with this format, changed again during the race, the Sprint offers a first idea of the performance of the cars in a race stint, a picture that we obviously couldn’t see in the only free practice session, chaotic with the other teams’ diversified programs to find the right compromise in terms of set-up on a track on which both a precise front and an effective rear are needed to have better traction.
Sfinished in fourth place, Verstappen experienced an initial interlocutory phase at the start of the race, which he faced with used tires for a few laps yesterday. The rain had effectively canceled the work done by the drivers in terms of rubberizing the track, and the track was very slippery in the beginning, with differences in terms of grip between the parts with the bitumen casting and those without. Lando Norris knows something about it, amazed by the Lewis Hamilton’s lightning start and forced to defend on the outside in a part of the track where he couldn’t help but skate. A costly error of judgment for Norris, who could have had his say for the podium.
The combination of the non-rubberized track and a pinch of caution meant that for a few laps the illusion was nourished that Verstappen was less effective, also due to a small battery problem which was then resolved. But during the seventh round Max activated, approaching Fernando Alonso and passing him. Soon it would be the turn of old rival Hamilton. These are two tasks that Max completed without too many problems, given the huge difference in performance. On the lap immediately after overtaking, Verstappen was 1.5 seconds faster than Hamilton, and would maintain a similar pace thereafter.
THE The 13 second gap made up by Hamilton in the space of less than ten laps makes it clear that the Mercedes W15 is also in serious difficulty in China. “This thing doesn’t turn in slow corners,” Hamilton commented during a race run with great momentum. It is a sign of the fact that Lewis, if presented with the right stimuli, still has the strength of the past. Helping Hamilton maintain the podium despite Mercedes’ poor pace was another old rival, Alonso, who acted as a stopper for a large part of the race, before having to surrender to the competition.
The Aston Martin confirms itself as a more effective car in qualifying than in the race, even if Alonso was able to take advantage of the AMR24’s good exit traction to defend himself. Fernando was too aggressive in closing down Carlos Sainz, and ended up suffering damage and having to retire. As for Ferrari, having passed Sainz and Charles Leclerc for a good part of the race in the train behind Alonso, it is not easy to understand what the real pace of the Ferrari is. An indication comes from Leclerc’s laps with a clear track at the end of the race, in which he maintained a pace not too far from that of Perez. Max, however, is something else.
But something else significant also happened at Ferrari, the brawl between Sainz and Leclerc. Charles toned it down slightly in the post-Sprint, but during the race he let himself go to a team radio piqued by the very aggressive defense of his teammate. Sainz was “overstappenized”, acting as if he were the only one on the track and leaving no room for Leclerc. But he was also very sanguine with Alonso. On the other hand, not only is he separated at home, but he has the determination of who must find the best placement for next year. It will be Ferrari’s job to keep them at bay.
Tags: Verstappen wins Ferraris pace heres learned Sprint Cin Formula
