F1 2024

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Ferrari drivers left searching for answers after qualifying

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz expressed surprise and disappointment at Ferrari’s qualifying performance at the Spanish Grand Prix, with the pair unable to join the pole position fight.
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Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz expressed surprise and disappointment at Ferrari’s qualifying performance at the Spanish Grand Prix, with the pair unable to join the pole position fight.

After placing first and third in final practice, Leclerc and Sainz had to settle for P5 and P6 in the grid-deciding session, with McLaren’s Lando Norris, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and the Mercedes drivers all out of reach.

Beginning his assessment of the session, Leclerc said: “Well, we struggled a lot. In terms of performance mostly I’m a bit shared between two sides of me.

“One side is… We did a really good job from yesterday to today in terms of car set-up. I changed completely the car on my side because yesterday I felt really bad in the car, and today the feeling is back.
 

Lando Norris reckons eight drivers have the potential to win Formula 1's 2024 Spanish Grand Prix, after a close qualifying fight where he pipped Red Bull's Max Verstappen to pole.


McLaren driver Norris took his second F1 career pole with a 1m11.383s at the end of Q3 at Barcelona, which put him 0.020s clear of Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton finished 0.318s back for Mercedes, with the rest of the top six covered by a further 0.035s.

Norris, having predicted after Friday practice that F1 was in for another multi-team victory scrap following on from Canada's action-packed race last time out, believes Saturday's qualifying scenes are indicative of a similar race playing out on Sunday in Spain, combined with a lack of long-run practice data accrued across the leading teams.

"I'm excited," Norris said in the post-qualifying press conference. "It's a long run down to Turn 1 so it's one of the places you don't want to start on pole. But it's an opportunity for us to go out and try and win a race.

"We've not done loads of long running. We've done a bit and I think we were close – as it always has been.
 

Carlos Sainz thinks bouncing in the high-speed corners is what has derailed Ferrari’s prospects at Formula 1’s Spanish Grand Prix.

The Spaniard and team-mate Charles Leclerc had hoped to be in the fight for pole position at Barcelona but ended up on the third row as McLaren’s Lando Norris beat Max Verstappen to the top spot, with both Mercedes right behind them.

While Ferrari had hoped a major new upgrade package would deliver a step forward, Sainz thinks that the prospects of the squad were ultimately wrecked by its failure to get on top of high-speed porpoising.

“We've been struggling all weekend with the high-speed corners,” he said. “We still have this phenomenon, bouncing phenomenon, that gives us a very tough time in the high-speed corners.

“Probably this is also killing a bit the tyre for the third sector. I don't know.
 

George Russell has explained his frustration over team-mate Lewis Hamilton's outlap in Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix qualifying, explaining both Mercedes drivers were angling for the same slipstream.

On the first of two runs in the final Q3 shoot-out, Russell was behind Hamilton on their preparation laps as they were kept abreast of Alpinedriver Esteban Ocon closing in on his flyer.

Russell was careful not to impede Ocon in the final sector but ensured he would catch the Alpine's draft as he turned onto Barcelona's long main straight, which would yield a valuable top-speed benefit.

But ahead of him, Hamilton had the same idea, leaving it late to let Ocon pass without compromising his exit speed through the final corner too much.

After focusing on his run, Russell vented his frustration on the team radio, saying: “What the f*** was Lewis doing prepping that lap?”
 

Max Verstappen went over three-tenths faster than anyone and looking set for pole position late in Qualifying with a stellar lap for the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix until McLaren’s Lando Norris denied him with an even better lap, but the Red Bull driver was not complaining.​

In the end, Verstappen was shy 0.020s of Norris’ pole-winning lap which shows how much the pecking order has altered since F1 were last in Barcelona, in 2023 when Max took pole and Norris was P3, half a second down on the Red Bull’s best effort in Qualifying today.

Early season aside, Verstappen knows he is in a fight these days. This won’t be a 2023 repeat when he monstered every race and no driver came close. The #1 Red Bull was almost unbeatable then. These days it is a very different story.

Searching for the sweetspot on the Red Bull RB20 all weekend long, in his unique and masterful way, Verstappen found pace in the Barcelona package which teammate Sergio Perez simply could not today, and simply cannot match when the chips are down.

When the chequered waved to end Qualy, it was Norris in P1, which was not as hard to take for Verstappen if it had been his nemesis Lewis Hamilton who is enjoying a fine turn of form of late in a revived Merc. The Mercedes driver will start Sunday’s race from P3.
 
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Piastri lagging behind Norris: 'Don't understand why there's no pace'

While Lando Norris felt the highs of pole position, Oscar Piastri was left languishing in P10 as the chequered flag fell. There were contrasting emotions on either side of the McLaren garage as Norris took the second pole position of his career, whereas Piastri was extremely critical of his...
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Piastri lagging behind Norris: 'Don't understand why there's no pace'​


While Lando Norris felt the highs of pole position, Oscar Piastriwas left languishing in P10 as the chequered flag fell. There were contrasting emotions on either side of the McLaren garage as Norris took the second pole position of his career, whereas Piastri was extremely critical of his performance on Saturday at the Spanish Grand Prix, with the Australian knowing there was more on offer.

Piastri understeered off into the gravel around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, ruining his only Q3 lap and resulting in him not setting a time. Ultimately, the Australian will start nine places behind his teammate in tenth and will face a much tougher task in Barcelona.
 
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Debate: It is ridiculous that Leclerc and Stroll get away with a reprimand

For the smallest things, the FIA acts and penalties are handed out. A track limit or obstructing a driver in qualifying is penalised immediately. Steering into another driver on the track? Apparently, that's just allowed. GPblog therefore has the following statement: it is ridiculous that...
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It was an extraordinary final few minutes of the third free practice session. You fell from one surprise to another due to the actions of the drivers on the track. It started with Lance Stroll, who was not happy with an action by Lewis Hamilton. The Briton hindered Stroll on a fast lap, after which Hamilton pulled over and apologised. However, that was not enough for Stroll. In fact, the latter was so angry that he steered into Hamilton.

What was the penalty for Stroll and Leclerc?​

Stroll was not the only one to get away with a reprimand. Charles Leclerchad to go to the stewards for the same offence, but Leclerc also got away with a reprimand after the incident with Lando Norris. While Stroll's action was still at low speed, Leclerc crossed in front of Norris at high speed.

Whereas Sebastian Vettel once received a hefty penalty for the same incident in Azerbaijan, Leclerc and Stroll got away with it. A bad example for other drivers and racing classes, where drivers will now also know that you can get away with such an action.


In addition, the contrast was great with the situation of Logan Sargeant. After all, he did receive a hefty penalty for obstructing Lance Stroll in qualifying. Unlike Leclerc and Stroll, however, Sargeant did not drive at his rival. Sargeant drove in the way but was also not properly informed by the team. Stroll did not suffer either, as the Canadian simply got through to Q2.

GPblog therefore has the following statement: it is ridiculous that Leclerc and Stroll got away with a reprimand.
 
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Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying Top 3 Press Conference

Full transcript from FIA hosted top three press conference after Qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix P1 Norris P2 Verstappen P3 Hamilton
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Full transcript from the FIA hosted top three press conference after Qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, Round 10 of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, as Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.​

Parc ferme interviews conducted by Marc Gene featuring the top three in the Qualifying session in Barcelona: P1 Lando Norris (McLaren), P2 Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)

Q: Lando Norris, pole position…
Lando Norris: It was pretty much a perfect lap. You know you’re on a good lap when you’re getting excited but the whole thing went perfectly in the end. So, close, still, but super, super happy. One of my, I’d say, my best pole positions. I’ve not had many but out of the ones I’ve had, my best. We’ve been close all weekend, but really this was just about a perfect lap and that’s what I did today. So it was cool, the fans and my supporters here are amazing, so a big thanks to everyone cheering me on.
 
Yuck weather today: only 18C, and cloudy with a chance of rain later.

If it does rain during the race, it will be the first time in 28years, the longest streak of dry races in F1 history (according to Mr Statman)


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