It was a weekend, the one of the Austrian GP held at the Red Bull Ring, where Scuderia Ferrari was seeking answers and certainty regarding the performance of the evolved SF-23 and the new aerodynamic package brought to the track in Zeltweg. Since the pre-test at Fiorano, the package was aimed at extracting the maximum potential from the SF-23, widening its operating window, and improving its behavior with different tire management during the race. These factors were crucial for the Maranello team to regain its position as the second force on the field.
After the Spielberg weekend, it seems that the answers have arrived, as the upgrades have worked, the red car has transmitted good sensations to the drivers, performed as expected, proved to be fast in single lap pace, consistent in race pace, and gentle on the tires. These ingredients allowed the Prancing Horse to secure second and sixth positions in the ninth round of the 2023 Formula 1 season and provided the technicians with confidence in the proper functioning of the upgrades as they look ahead to the remainder of the campaign.
The next stage of the championship will be the British Grand Prix, scheduled for the following week at Silverstone. Based on the indications and feedback obtained in Austria, the technicians (as reported by Motorsport.com) of the Ferrari team are ready to introduce further innovations for the SF-23 to continue its growth path.
“The Scuderia is looking forward to the upcoming Silverstone weekend, and Maranello has decided on the equipment that will be seen in Great Britain. The Austrian package will be supplemented with an update to the diffuser: the SF-23 will assume a more comprehensive aerodynamic configuration along with the adjustments planned for the historic English circuit. The red car will, therefore, undergo scrutiny on the fast corners where the Ferrari car has suffered the most: a demanding track […] to test the real value acquired by Ferrari.”
In the Silverstone Grand Prix, to confirm the growth shown so far, the SF-23 will also have to adapt to the new Pirelli tires that will be introduced for safety reasons but are not expected to significantly impact the on-track performance, although team principal Frederic Vasseur has expressed some concerns.
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“The British event will feature the debut of the new tires: […] tires with a stiffer construction to counter the increase in downforce on the cars, which have reached the load threshold expected by the end of the season. Teams tested the tires during free practice in Spain, but it remains to be seen if the new product will have any impact on the behavior of the cars.”
A path of growth that already allowed Frederic Vasseur‘s team to have a good weekend in Austria, although initial simulations indicated that Maranello’s expectations for the race at the Red Bull Ring were even higher. Therefore, despite the positive aspects observed, there seems to be a hint of discontent within the walls of the Ferrari Racing Division for not extracting the full potential from the SF-23 car.
“Ferrari did not show its full potential in Austria. The Maranello team had higher expectations. […] Charles Leclerc’s second place is a breath of fresh air indicating that the team is on the right path of development. […] The gap from the RB19 is still estimated to be around half a second per lap: the others finished behind the red cars, which is already an important result, but the ambition of the Prancing Horse was to reduce the gap to the front-runners. […] With only one practice session, the best setup has not yet been found, a sign that there is still untapped potential to be extracted.” – Motorsport.com informs.
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