Let’s start with a fact. The Ferrari SF-23 single-seater uses the tires too much, preventing Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to challenge Red Bull in terms of race pace. A problem that emerged in Australia and was then confirmed at the Miami International Autodrome in Florida, USA, with Baku providing a positive one-off, especially in the qualifying session. The main reason lies in the lack of aerodynamic load due (also) to almost obligatory setup choices.
In Miami, the tight corners of the second sector were the most profitable for the red car. This means that the technicians decided to direct their work towards a setup that is tendentially soft. The goal was to obtain high performance at medium-low speeds, using then a greater load than the competition in the medium-high speed mixed section.
The experiment succeeded only halfway. By removing traction, in fact, the SF-23 obtained more traction on the curbs but ended up exposing itself to bouncing in high-speed corners which then, if you remember well, is the reason for Charles Leclerc’s accident.
What is the best solution to follow then? One might think of copying Red Bull. But it’s not that simple. Although it is true that the SF-23 car can approach the concept followed by the RB19, there are still limitations for the chassis.
Scuderia Ferrari will make changes for the race at the 4.909-kilometre Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, commonly known as Imola, albeit without significant visual overhauls. Firstly, adopting Red Bull (or Aston Martin) style sidepods is not a viable option and, above all, it is not possible to create a cavity at the entrance of the sidepods. This is because the SF-23’s structure has different dimensions than that of the RB19, and as mentioned, there are unbridgeable chassis limitations.
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The Maranello team has therefore chosen to try to push the flows lower at the rear by changing the rear diffuser and some parts around the hood. By doing so, Maranello’s technicians are trying to obtain more load at the rear while limiting resistance to movement through a more pronounced downwash effect.
We had previously reported that the rear suspension would also be subject to interventions. According to what has been reported by the Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, the geometry of the components will not be changed, but rather updated in the area of the rear wheel attachment. With these premises, Ferrari can play its cards at the Imola circuit next weekend. On paper, the Red Bull RB19 is unbeatable, but power, braking, and a newfound aerodynamic coefficient, especially with DRS closed, could allow the Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to defend themselves against Aston Martin and Mercedes and be aggressive on the curbs of the Italian track.
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