Mercedes’ once-comfortable lead in the Constructors’ Championship has been gradually eroding as Ferrari has been steadily closing the gap in recent races. The team from Maranello has made significant strides in improving their tyre management, resulting in better race performance, and this progress has raised questions about Mercedes’ tyre advantage.
Mercedes headed into the summer break with a 56-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship. However, in the four races since the season resumed, they have consistently lost points to the Scuderia, with the gap now reduced to just 20 points.
One of the key factors contributing to Ferrari’s resurgence has been their improved tyre management. Earlier in the season, the SF-23 struggled with high tyre degradation, hampering the team’s race pace in the latter parts of stints. In contrast, the Mercedes W14 was more forgiving on its tyres, giving the team a performance edge, even when they didn’t secure pole positions.
However, the recent trend has seen Ferrari resolve their tyre issues and enhance their understanding of the SF-23, resulting in improved tyre management. This was evident in the Japanese Grand Prix, where high tyre degradation was a common complaint among all teams.
James Shovlin, the Mercedes trackside engineering director, believes two key factors have contributed to the changing dynamics in recent races. Firstly, Mercedes’ W14 has shown a performance deficit, particularly in fast corners, where downforce plays a crucial role. This deficiency has affected their race performance as well as their qualifying results.
Secondly, Ferrari introduced an updated floor, which may have bolstered their performance. While the exact extent of Ferrari’s progress remains to be determined, the advantage that Mercedes previously enjoyed in terms of tyre degradation is not as apparent now in the season as it was earlier.
In summary, Ferrari’s resurgence can be attributed to their improved tyre management and possibly the performance gains achieved with the updated floor. These developments have brought them closer to Mercedes in recent races, creating a more competitive environment in the Formula 1 season.
