On Thursday, Formula 1 cars hit the track for the first free practice session, but given the track conditions it was a session that did not allow us to draw any significant initial conclusions.
The pre-season testing session in Bahrain has provided a general idea of the grid, but, as Charles Leclerc himself stated, “it’s still too early.” The work plan is not the same for everyone, and “usually, the race pace helps form an idea, but, for example, Red Bull has never done a complete race simulation, we have, like others.” The Monegasque driver explained that without a direct comparison with known fuel loads and Power Unit mappings, it’s challenging to be certain about the order of forces at the beginning of the season. The first weekend will undoubtedly provide an initial answer in this regard.
From Zandvoort, a step forward to better understand these ground-effect cars
A recurring theme in discussions with Ferrari personnel – from Frederic Vasseur to Enrico Cardile and the two drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz – is the significance of the 2023 Dutch weekend for the Scuderia. “We worked during the free practices of that weekend and understood much more about how these new-generation cars work. It was very useful,” explained Leclerc. The SF-23 was a car that, in terms of peak performance, allowed for a good number of pole positions, even against the dominant Red Bull RB19. What was lacking was consistency in the race and the car’s ‘honesty’ to the drivers and in comparison to the data coming from the simulator.
The Zandvoort weekend was positive – despite the very negative result on the track – because it offered Ferrari “a development direction,” providing a better understanding of the car and how it operates. Ground-effect cars are much more sensitive than their predecessors, as also explained by Technical Director Enrico Cardile, mentioning the differences that different types of asphalt and wind intensity can make, with wind being one of the significant adversaries of the 2023 car. It’s no coincidence that from the Netherlands onwards, Ferrari has shifted gears, introducing functional and significant updates, such as the Suzuka floor. “In the second part of the season, we had a positive momentum, and we have to build on that,” confirmed Charles Leclerc yesterday.
SF-24 is a better starting point: the first areas to improve are low-speed performance
Charles Leclerc has not concealed his satisfaction with the progress made by the Maranello team, although he wants to wait before judging the potential of the Ferrari SF-24 because “it always depends on the progress made by the opponents.” Consistency in race pace and a base less sensitive to external variations are certainly the starting points for this weekend. The SF-24 could turn out to be a more competitive car in the race than in qualifying, where, according to early test results, there is still room for improvement in responsiveness and the ability to extract the maximum performance with new tires and an empty tank. However, Charles Leclerc has already identified some points on which the SF-24 must undoubtedly progress: “We have understeer that limits turning the car and in slow corners, but this is a common issue for several teams,” stated the Monegasque..
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The 2024 Ferrari is a significantly different car from the SF-23, changed by 95%, and especially the front end has been entirely redesigned with a new nose design, front wing, and a front suspension with an increased anti-dive effect. These changes undoubtedly require some adaptation compared to the characteristics of the 2023 car, but above all, the increased anti-dive may penalize the braking and entry phase, which was one of the main peculiarities of the SF-23. When asked about a possible comparison with the other two ground-effect Ferraris, Charles Leclerc immediately clarified that “compared to the F1-75, it is very different, but in terms of drivability and how it reacts to changes, it is similar. However, in terms of characteristics and balance, it is quite different.” – the Monegasque concluded, ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend.
The positive aspect emphasized several times by the Monegasque is that of a more solid foundation than in the past, which can be a significant aid for development. To understand what to prioritize, they will wait for the first qualifying and the first race of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
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