Page 103 - Car South Africa (February 2020)
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Ferrari came to terms with an
inherent design flaw.
Regulation changes for 2019
had simplified the front wing and
restricted work on barge boards,
brake ducts and under-nose guide
vanes. The aim was to reduce the
outwash of air that had a negative
influence on any car attempting
to overtake. Ferrari chose a differ- VETTEL Vettel would tow Leclerc before
ent method to Mercedes when it swapping roles during the final
came to designing its front wings vs. LECLERC qualifying lap. Vettel played his
to suit the required change. The part but Leclerc made sure
outcome was Mercedes found to keep pole position by staying
more downforce at the front The 2019 season marked Sebas- too far ahead of his team-
while the Ferrari had what would tian Vettel’s fifth with Ferrari. He mate to return the favour.
turn out to be the lesser advan- had not come close to winning Moving on to Russia two
MERCEDES tage of lower drag linked with an a title the German and his team races later, Vettel was supposed
extremely powerful engine. craved with increasing despera- to pull Leclerc away from the
vs. FERRARI The net effect at the first race tion. Vettel’s comfort zone was Mercedes pair on the long run
was Ferrari struggled to find a narrowed for 2019 when the easy- to the first corner. Somehow,
balance through the slow cor- going Kimi Räikkönen, with close he forgot to help his precocious
Mercedes, as the defending ners. This, coupled with an unex- to 300 Grands Prix to his credit, team-mate and so the tone
champion, went to the first race made way for Charles Leclerc, the was set … the upshot was a
Ferrari
of 2019 fearing its monopoly was former GP3 and F2 champion. serious struggle for superiority
about to be challenged. Ferrari, Although the 21-year-old’s when the pair collided at the
the closest rival in previous struggled to find promise was never in doubt, penultimate race in Brazil. The
years, had raised its game. There Binotto appeared to diffuse po- shredded carbon and broken
seemed to be no question after a balance tential angst by confirming that suspension confirmed Binotto
the red cars had dominated Vettel would receive priority in has a problem on his hands
pre-season testing in Barcelo- pected and ongoing problem on any 50/50 situation. Leclerc went going into 2020.
na. Even allowing for the usual Ferrari’s power unit, meant it lost along with the edict in Mel- In the overall scheme of
caveat of testing being one thing 0,7 seconds to Lewis Hamilton’s bourne. In Bahrain two weeks things, the Ferrari drivers are
and racing another, Ferrari ap- pole-position Mercedes during later, when asked to hold station supposed to work for the team
peared to finally get the message qualifying. The stunned look on behind Vettel, Leclerc overtook (you could say, the whole of
after so many failures. the Ferrari team’s faces wiped the de facto team leader three Italy) rather than themselves. In
There was a new dynamic out the quiet satisfaction at the corners later. The Monégasque the bid to win the constructors’
about the team. The surly end of testing in Barcelona. would have won that race but title for the first time since 2008
Maurizio Arrivabene had been It would prove to be a short- for an unexpected loss of power. (and the drivers’ title since 2007),
replaced by Mattia Binotto as Fer- coming not cured overnight and Leclerc finally made his Binotto has to control a young
rari team principal. Although a set the Ferrari theme for 2019. predictable breakthrough at Spa, gun going against an old hand
top engineer not necessarily well Even though Ferrari’s power followed by another victory at … a proud old hand at that. Next
versed in the political necessities, advantage grew enough to have Monza where he laid down a season could be Vettel’s last in
the soft-spoken Italian would the opposition question how it marker more significant than F1. He’s not going to go without
bring a much-needed air of calm was done, the tracks where its the ability to win. It had been a fight any more than Leclerc
to the potentially volatile team. pace advantage should have agreed the Ferrari drivers would wants to stand on ceremony and
Binotto would receive his reaped dividends (Bahrain, Baku, make the most of their advan- respect seniority. Good luck with
first test sooner than expected. Montreal, Hockenheim, Spa tage on the super-fast track; that one, Mr Binotto.
Mercedes scored a one-two in and Monza) brought only two
Melbourne; Ferrari finished fourth victories, three of the four losses Vettel’s not going to go without a
and fifth behind a Red Bull. Ferrari due to mechanical trouble.
would have won the next Grand Meanwhile, in the background, fight any more than Leclerc wants
Prix in Bahrain but for a technical Binotto had to cope with a hu-
failure. A repeat of the Mercedes man-related issue that grew as to stand on ceremony and respect
domination at this and the next the season went on and shows seniority. Good luck, Mr Binotto
three races turned the screw as every sign of continuing in 2020.
CARmag.co.za CAR FEBRUARY 2020 101
