This weekend will see the United States Grand Prix, the eighteenth event of the 2023 Formula 1 championship. An event that, like the previous one in Qatar, will be marked by the frantic Sprint format and high temperatures. Both aspects, but the first in particular, will make life difficult for teams and drivers regarding the choice of the right setup. Tito Amato, Ferrari’s vehicle performance innovation, discussed this in the usual preview published on the official Scuderia website. Below, we offer an excerpt of his considerations.
Ferrari, the current situation ahead of the Austin weekend
Amato first discussed the characteristics of the Austin circuit. “The track is characterized by curves covering the entire speed range, from slow ones between 70 and 80 km/h to fast ones, where speeds reach 270 km/h. There are only two straights – both in the DRS zone – and the main one is particularly short, around 500 m. These elements suggest a choice of aero configuration with medium to high downforce,” said the Italian manager, revealing part of what Ferrari has in mind.
The right compromise in view of the United States Grand Prix
“Drivers and engineers will be tasked with finding the right balance between the sequence of high-speed corners in the first sector and the slower ones in the last sector. In particular, it will be important to maximize traction in the low and medium-speed corners and ensure sufficient stability in the faster ones,” observed the Ferrari reference.
Regarding how the Sprint format will impact the teams’ work over the weekend:
“A single hour of free practice places particular emphasis on the work done at home in preparation for the event because there won’t be time for major setup changes on the track. The main focus during FP1 will be on the behavior of the tires, especially the Medium and Soft compounds, to plan their usage effectively over the weekend, particularly in the Saturday Sprint Race and Sunday’s race.”
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