Scuderia Ferrari started the 2022 Formula 1 season with a strong project: the F1-75 car impressed from the first moment it took to the track seven months ago. Despite the criticism directed at Ferrari for some questionable strategy decisions and operational mistakes, the technical department has proven its ability to design a fast car. And their last show of strength was seen last weekend in the Italian Grand Prix.
The Monza circuit is not at all suited for the characteristics of the F1-75 challenger, yet the disappointment for the outcome of the 2022 Italian Grand Prix must certainly not be attributed to the technical department. On the contrary, the men in red showed great courage.
The measures implemented during free practice gradually improved the cars, allowing Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to use the best version of the cars in qualifying. While in the race, the superior pace of Red Bull was insurmountable. This goes beyond the aerodynamic configuration.
“At Monza, Ferrari opted for a configuration with not enough downforce” – Many have said and written this. But if the data study suggested this choice, it means that maximum performance was achievable through that precise set up. Otherwise, without any doubt, with the help of telemetry and simulator, Ferrari would have focused on more downforce. An element that, evidently, during the race weekend, Ferrari believed would not give more advantages than those obtained. The same goes for Sunday. Although a set-up with more downforce would have allowed a better management of the tires, evidently, at the same time it would have limited top speeds. And this is more than a crucial factor in terms of lap time results at the fast Monza track.
The high tyre degradation that the F1-75 suffers in race pace is not a matter of set-up. Rather, it should be attributed to certain variables, such as layout, characteristics of the car and, last but not least, the much-discussed Technical Directive 039. The technicians from Maranello did not cancel the developments, they simply stopped producing them for some time. This is the information collected from the multiple sources within the paddock. Indeed, to be more correct, most of the efforts made are aimed at next year.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection from Puma! Enter the online Puma Store and shop securely! And get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
The latest statements made by John Elkann, president of Ferrari, “we aim for victory by 2026“, have only one goal: to deceive their competitors as much as possible. The goal is in fact only one: to demolish the competition as soon as possible, starting with next year.
The comparative tests carried out over the last few months on various parts of the single-seater aim to correct the performance of the car and at the same time, much more importantly, to lay the foundations for the future mechanical engineering work that will be packaged in Maranello.
We should therefore see, during the remaining F1 events in the final part of the 2022 season, several small aerodynamic improvements. The aim is to understand, to quote Mattia Binotto. A cross-sectional work that will allow Ferrari to test various concepts on track that will then be used on the new version of the F1-75 for the following campaign. The reliability problems suffered in the middle of the season have been resolved. The exhaust valves and the hybrid system have made some damage in terms of points lost due to retirements. The rise in temperatures that occurred in different contexts caused “fires” and mechanical failures. But Ferrari is confident it has solved these issues with the latest power unit version.
The latest engine specification used since Spa-Francorchamps has given positive feedback. Still, the approach has been very conservative from Belgium onwards. Only in Italy, in fact, has the turbo hybrid unit been put under pressure. The support of the Motor Generator Unit is superior and the efficiency has increased. This is demonstrated by the SOC (state of charge) mappings used in the race that are much more intense.
There is a further step to be verified in the near future, which is very useful to realize if the reliability of the 066/7 engine will be completely perfect. The increase in performance is also represented by an interesting decrease in weight obtained through the use of specific materials. Without forgetting that a handful of horsepower is more useful to the overall cause.
The development of the power unit will be limited by the regulation until the end of the 2025 season. Therefore, all engine manufacturers have tried to do their best to guarantee trouble-free engine functionality.
The brilliant mind of Adrian Newey, an expert in ground effect, has created a car capable of making the most of the concepts linked to the philosophies of the new technical regulation. Ferrari observes, learns, and will put into practice.
Understanding the functioning of the new rules by heart was certainly not easy. Tire management is one of the points to be scrupulously addressed. In the first part of the championship this topic did not raise particular concerns, a circumstance that emerged only during the season. In order to be able to take care of the compounds in the best possible way, Ferrari must work with certain ground heights.
The optimal window of tyre use has undergone a significant change following the TD039 directive. The consequences are there for all to see, on the other hand. This is why one of the investigations underway concerns the mere management of compounds.
The goal for Ferrari is to widen the working range and therefore be able to make the final adjustments which, although they mitigate the degradation, they also negatively affect the overall performance of the car.
Leave a Reply