Pirelli’s introduction of the C5 compound, the softest in its range, had a significant impact on the battle for pole position between Red Bull and Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen secured pole position with a margin of 0.270s over Carlos Sainz, but this doesn’t fully reflect the Ferrari’s impressive performance at Albert Park. Sainz could have been in contention for pole if not for a momentary lapse at Turn 9. The differing reactions of the Red Bull RB20 and Ferrari SF-24 to the tricky C5 tire played a crucial role in determining the outcome. Sainz, rather than Charles Leclerc, emerged as the leading force for Ferrari due to the demands placed on the drivers by the tire.
During Friday’s practice sessions, the Red Bull struggled to find the right balance on the C5 tire. Verstappen and Sergio Perez both experienced difficulties, with Verstappen damaging his floor in FP1. As the team worked to repair the car, Perez attempted to unlock the secrets of the tire. Verstappen expressed frustration with the C5, stating that he couldn’t push through fast corners like he could with the medium tire. Perez echoed these sentiments. The tire’s characteristics affected all teams, but the Red Bull seemed to suffer more due to its struggle to generate front tire temperature at the start of a lap.
The Red Bull’s early lap understeer exacerbated the challenge of finding the right setup. The car’s understeer would transition to oversteer throughout the lap, making it difficult to find a suitable front wing flap angle. Verstappen admitted that the team struggled to find balance throughout the weekend, while Ferrari appeared more comfortable. This highlighted a major strength of the Ferrari – its accessibility. Although the Ferrari didn’t possess the same ultimate potential as the Red Bull, its sweet spot was easier to find. Leclerc set the fastest time in FP2 and performed well in long runs, while Red Bull grappled with limited track time due to Verstappen’s FP1 incident.
Red Bull made progress on Saturday by adjusting the setup and reducing rear wing levels. This helped address the early lap understeer and improved straight-line speed. The car’s underbody downforce also mitigated the effects of oversteer later in the lap. Verstappen closed the gap to Leclerc’s fastest time in FP3. However, the changing track conditions and strong winds between FP3 and qualifying posed new challenges. Leclerc struggled to find the right feeling in the car, leading to a loss of confidence. Sainz, on the other hand, coped better with the changing demands of the C5 tire.
Sainz tracked the tire’s behavior and adapted accordingly. He felt more comfortable with the medium tire in high-speed corners but lacked the same confidence with the soft tire. The soft tire’s low-speed performance allowed for fast lap times, but it posed challenges in high-speed corners. Sainz fine-tuned his approach during his Q3 laps, but a snap in the car’s handling at Turn 9 cost him time. Despite this setback, Sainz managed to claw back some time and believed pole position was within reach.
Verstappen and Red Bull deserve credit for their performance, as the car remained challenging even with adjustments. Perez also faced difficulties, losing time in Turn 1. However, both drivers acknowledged that qualifying position may not be as crucial in the race due to high tire degradation. Sainz agreed that degradation would be a key factor and expressed confidence in Ferrari’s ability to compete for the win.