Following the Singapore Grand Prix, Visa Money App RB F1 Group was sitting in sixth place within the Method 1 Constructors’ Championship, three factors away from rivals Haas in that race. Alpine was a distant ninth, 21 factors behind VCARB in that race.
What a distinction a couple of race weekends make.
Because the grid heads to the Qatar Grand Prix for the penultimate race weekend of the 2024 season, VCARB discover themselves sitting eighth within the standings, having seen first Haas, after which Alpine in beautiful vogue, eclipse them within the standings. In the mean time Haas leads the way in which on this three-way struggle for sixth with 50 factors, adopted by Alpine with 49, and Haas with 46.
With two Grands Prix left, and an F1 Dash Race this weekend in Qatar, each lap, and each level, counts.
Yuki Tsunoda is “optimistic” the workforce can construct on the robust developments from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the place he completed ninth.
“From FP2 onwards in Vegas we improved our understanding of run the automobile, which can hopefully proceed this weekend,” stated Tsunoda within the workforce’s media preview. “I’m optimistic that we are able to have one other robust race, regardless of going from a observe with lengthy excessive velocity straights and 90 diploma turns to 1 with quick flowing corners. Final 12 months’s very popular circumstances in Qatar didn’t have an effect on me too badly, however with the race a month later this time, the climate appears a lot nicer.
“Final 12 months, all drivers have been solely allowed to do a most of 18 laps on a set of tyres due to a problem with the kerbs, however that’s been sorted now, so when it comes to race technique, we begin with a clear sheet,” added Tsunoda. “There’s just one hour of observe earlier than Dash quali, so I’m going to be targeted on efficiency in order that we are able to proceed to struggle for sixth place within the Constructors.”
Liam Lawson, whereas recalling final season’s brutal Qatar Grand Prix, outlined the extra challenges the groups face this week with the compressed schedule, and the structure of the circuit.
“Qatar is a really powerful observe that was in all probability the toughest race I did final 12 months. The temperature final 12 months was fairly heat, so hopefully it is going to be cooler this 12 months,” stated Lawson. “It’s additionally very excessive velocity, which I’m wanting ahead to. It’s a Dash weekend, which makes it difficult; we must be pushing fairly exhausting, fairly early to verify we’re in an excellent window for SQ. It’s a weekend the place we have to rating some factors to be in for the struggle for P6, so we’ll be ensuring we maximise the automobile as a lot as we are able to.”
