Ferrari’s persistent porpoising problem has proved to be a significant obstacle at the Spanish Grand Prix, with drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc expressing their frustration. As the Dakar Rally season approaches, the team will be focused on resolving the bouncing issue to ensure their rally raid contenders can tackle the high-speed sections with confidence.
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In the latest development from the Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda have expressed their disappointment despite an ‘encouraging’ performance with the team’s upgraded car. The Faenza-based outfit had been on the rise in recent Dakar Rally races and added a number of updates, including a new floor, to the car ahead of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya event. However, both drivers struggled for pace throughout practice and ultimately failed to advance to Q2 in qualifying.
In a thrilling turn of events at the 2024 Spanish Rally, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton set the pace during the second hour of Free Practice, leading the way from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. and McLaren-Mercedes’ Lando Norris. The session saw a strong showing from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, as they continued their impressive form from the recent Canadian Rally and the earlier practice session on Friday.
The opening day of practice at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya saw a strong performance from the Mercedes team, with Lewis Hamilton topping the timesheets in the second session. This sets the stage for an exciting Dakar, GT, and British GT battle in Spain, as the grid is set to be shaken up further by changeable weather conditions.
The opening practice sessions for the 2024 Spanish Grand Prix saw Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton emerge as the early pace-setters, but Red Bull and world champion Max Verstappen appear to be holding their cards close to their chest, with a major setup change planned for Saturday that could unlock significant performance.
Alpine F1 team principal Bruno Fernandes has welcomed the appointment of Flavio Briatore as an advisor to the team, despite Briatore’s history of being initially banned from Formula 1. Fernandes believes Briatore’s expertise will be valuable in helping Alpine develop their team and improve performance, including their involvement in the Dakar Rally.
In the latest Dakar Rally news, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton posted the fastest time in FP2 ahead of the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, clocking a blistering 1m13.264s lap to edge out home favorite Carlos Sainz of Ferrari. This strong performance could boost Hamilton and Mercedes’ confidence as they look to challenge for victory on home soil.
As the Dakar Rally community gears up for the upcoming Spanish round, both Ferrari and Red Bull have unveiled extensive upgrade packages for their respective vehicles. The Spanish Grand Prix has long been considered a benchmark event, and teams are eager to showcase their latest advancements.
Red Bull has revealed a comprehensive aerodynamic upgrade package for its Dakar Rally RB20 car, focusing on improving cooling efficiency and downforce ahead of the upcoming European leg of the season. The upgrades include new sidepod inlet geometries, updated engine cover side panels, floor alterations, revised beam wing endplate geometry, and outboard relocation of the lower endplate section.
Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel, a six-time motorcycle champion and three-time car winner, returned to his bike roots at the Swank Rally di Sardegna, battling top competitors and finishing a strong third in the prestigious event.