FP1 ANALYSIS - ITALIAN GP

 CONDITION:

TRACK TEMPERATURE: 51°C

AIR TEMPERATURE: 33°C

UMIDITY: 38%

WIND: ABOUT 2 M/S, N/NW

Let’s start talking about the top teams: in the first session of tests we notice a McLaren really fast on the straight, 348 km/h against 343 km/h of Leclerc with his Ferrari and Hamilton with his Mercedes, the gap increases with Verstappen who records only 341 km/h.

Of course, we must remember that Red Bull is competing with a wing with more load than its rivals, and this does not allow to optimize the EOSS. While Ferrari and Mercedes have the more powerful versions and McLaren immediately after.

At this point we look at the situation at the Parabolica, a curve quite important, a very important aspect is the traction in exit, because immediately after it has a very long straight that leads us on turn 1. To record the best speed was the car of Hamilton, with 250 km/h, immediately after Norris with 249 km/h, Verstappen and Leclerc with respectively 245 km/h and 239 km/h.

What we have to observe is the fastest lap, and how the car behaved on this occasion. We notice a Ferrari that has a better output traction compared to rivals, traction that is emphasized by the management mode of ERS, in which at home Maranello is used to optimize the output traction, going down in compromises with the EOSS.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PIASTRI AND NORRIS (REAR WING MEDIUM-LOW V LOW):

Piastri used a medium-low load rear wing in the FP1, unlike his teammate who used a low load rear wing. Inevitably Norris recorded a km/h high compared to plates, with a difference of 3 km/h.

But we see that in the violin plot and in the telemetry at the bottom left, as Piastri has a better cornering in curve than Norris (we also see an error by Piastri in exit, this indicates that they have not yet found a suitable balance).

Even if Piastri used a wing with higher load, at the moment he has registered a max speed higher than rivals, so the use of a rear wing with medium-low load is not yet completely excluded, could even help the drivers in the exit phase of turns and have a better ride. But we are still in FP1, we will have to see in the next sessions the rivals what times they will make!

DRIVER FEEDBACK ON THE CAR:

Both Ferraris suffered from a slight oversteer in the exit of the second chicane and understeering in Lesmo 2.

The Mercedes of Hamilton has immediately suffered from the high temperatures of the track, complaining that the tyres overheated, this in race can be harmful due to the graining and lack of adhesion. It was not the only problem for the German team, in fact the 44 suffered from understeering at turn 5 and oversteer at exit of turn 8.

Max Verstappen also brings to Italy the annoying understeer, in fact at the beginning of FP1, complains about a difficulty in entering curve 1 and understeering halfway around the bend. Therefore it requires an adjustment to the front flap, probably an increase in load (+ drag) to optimize entry and travel in curves.

Changes to the flap have also been made on Norris’s McLaren, who repeatedly complains about the stability in the entry curve. This is also done on #81, adding also the removal of the gurney flap on the rear wing (reducing downforce and drag production).