F1: why low-downforce setups were rewarded at Zandvoort; Ferrari executes “Fred Vasseur plan”

One general observation was that cars opting for a lower downforce setup gained a significant advantage during the race. For instance, data from qualifying indicated that Oscar Piastri had chosen a higher downforce setup, likely aiming to enhance tire management, but his race pace ultimately lagged behind that of his teammate, Lando Norris. Even within the Red Bull camp, the two drivers employed distinctly different setups, with Max Verstappen running noticeably more downforce than Sergio Perez, who managed to deliver a comparatively better performance than in many of his recent outings. Ferrari, which has been struggling with insufficient downforce at this point in the 2024 Formula 1 season, surprisingly came to life during the race, underscoring the improved performance of cars that weren’t running maximum aerodynamic downforce.

Analyzing the average telemetry data, it’s clear that Max Verstappen was losing ground to Lando Norris, particularly on the straights, hampered by excessive drag. In a race where tire management remained crucial, it might seem counterintuitive that less downforce led to better performance. However, this can be largely attributed to the changing conditions: the warm track surface combined with cool air allowed drivers to bring their tires up to temperature without the risk of overheating due to excessive sliding. Moreover, once the tires were within their optimal operating window, a compounding effect occurred, where the excellent grip provided under ideal conditions further reduced sliding, outweighing the benefits of a few extra points of downforce.

When this balance was achieved, as seen with Lando Norris and the two Ferrari SF-24s, it was possible to maintain performance and grip without falling victim to overheating issues. Additionally, the moderately warm track temperature prevented the hard tires from experiencing graining, making them the perfect choice for the long second stint. This was particularly advantageous for Ferrari, as the SF24 has shown significant struggles with softer compounds due to the increased sidewall and carcass movement, which disrupts the car’s aerodynamics. Running almost the entire race on the hard tire effectively eliminated this issue, helping the Maranello team secure a podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, an outcome that was far from expected. In the second stint, Carlos Sainz even managed to post average lap times just a couple of tenths slower than Lando Norris, confirming that Ferrari’s race pace was strong, aided by the factors analyzed above.

OUTLINE:

00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:06 Lando Norris’s Dominant Performance
00:00:21 McLaren’s Overwhelming Power
00:00:35 Great Balance in All Conditions
00:00:42 Changing Conditions at Zandvoort
00:01:01 Tire Management and Performance
00:01:08 Tire Usage Windows
00:01:30 Downforce Levels and Speed Advantages
00:01:39 Data Analysis and Tire Management
00:01:55 Highlighting Lando Norris
00:02:03 McLaren’s Future Prospects

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