According to the latest rumors, the key to the SF-23’s resurgence in Canada would be the feedback collected during the Pirelli testing session which was held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, where Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz reportedly found a much more suitable set-up to unleash the car’s maximum potential. This, combined with the characteristics of the Canadian circuit, contributed to the excellent performance of the two Ferrari single-seaters in Montreal last Sunday.
Ferrari: Set-up found in Barcelona Pirelli tests the key to the SF-23’s resurgence in Canada
Even before the weekend in Canada, rumors were circulating about Ferrari making a significant step forward in better understanding a car that had appeared quite temperamental in the first seven races of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign.
According to a recent report from German magazine Auto Motor und sport, the men from Maranello would have found a much more suitable set-up for the characteristics of the SF-23. This would have greatly helped Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in managing the tires during the race.
One of the major issues with this car has always been high tire wear, especially with a full fuel load. This, combined with difficulty in maintaining a consistent race pace throughout the stint, explains a large part of the disappointing results in the early stages of the 2023 Formula 1 championship.
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Illustrative of this is the two stints on the hard tires at Montmeló, where Charles Leclerc was forced to pit after just 17 laps from the start of the race, while the final run proved to be much more competitive. These problems magically disappeared in Montreal, with an enviable race pace and consistency in lap times.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Canadian circuit suited the characteristics of the SF23 particularly well. According to pre-weekend simulations, Ferrari was expected to be more competitive compared to Spain. However, the performance delivered by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz on Sunday at the 4.361-kilometre Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal is still noteworthy.
The next stop in Spielberg will be crucial to confirm the improvements seen in Canada. Frederic Vasseur himself confirmed that further updates will arrive at the Red Bull Ring. On paper, the Austrian circuit is expected to be less favorable to the car in terms of tire degradation. But who knows, perhaps this SF-23 has just started its own championship a few days ago.
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