They were supposed to be the developments that would turn the season around, the updates that represented the breakthrough to improve the inherent flaw of the SF-23, namely the race pace, more precisely tire management.
And yet, once again, Ferrari leaves the circuit empty-handed, with the dismay of its drivers. The SF-23 before Barcelona was an inconsistent, if not pitiful, car in terms of race pace. After Barcelona, it remains an inconsistent, if not pitiful, car in terms of race pace, but with Red Bull-style sloping side pods.
At first glance, after the initial failed test, it would seem that the red car has brought leopard-like developments to the track, changing everything so that nothing changes. The four highly respectable leopards reading this may have noticed that a few days ago I expressed some doubts about the effectiveness of the updates. Logically speaking, it was hard to imagine that a car designed so poorly could transform into a high-performing single-seater thanks to some aerodynamic developments.
Nevertheless, the prevailing narrative had loaded the “new” SF-23 with expectations; the suspicion is that it is convenient for many to instill hope rather than tell the desperate reality.
Never before have Fred Vasseur’s reckless proclamations on the eve of the race seemed so out of tune; and even after the Catalan debacle, the team principal appeared smug in front of the microphones, talking about the good potential to extract from the SF23, an insult to the fans after what had been seen on the track at the Circuit de Catalunya in the Spanish Grand Prix.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also 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!
Let’s rewind the tape. The Ferrari admired at Montmelò, despite the developments that were supposed to change the 2023 Formula One season, was no different from the one seen a few weeks ago in Miami. Inconsistent, slow in pace, unable to offer any resistance to its rivals. Carlos Sainz started second only to slide inexorably into fifth place, easily overtaken by the Mercedes, with George Russell, starting from the sixth row, lapping twice as fast.
Mercedes has shown how important it is to develop the car and also to embrace new concepts. The problem, however, is that you have to be good and capable of doing it in the right way.
Setting aside Frederic Vasseur’s verbal virtuosity, who after seven GPs and a disaster in plain sight still clings to qualifying laps, it seems that the only one who has the courage to paint a clear – albeit ruthless – picture of the situation is Charles Leclerc.
Beyond the rear-end issue in qualifying that ruined his weekend, the Monegasque spoke after the race with a bewildered look, admitting that they cannot understand why the car is so unpredictable, completely inconsistent in the race, and why it doesn’t work well with the tires.
While other teams, each at their own pace, have consistent performances, Ferrari plays with different tire compounds to see if the car works with one of the three options. But changing the tire colors doesn’t change the result. Red, yellow, white, they could even put together all the Power Rangers, but the SF23 in the race collapses, lacks pace, and is simply, noticeably, slow.
After yet another appalling performance and another lesson learned, this time from Mercedes (mentioning Red Bull is pointless as they are in a separate championship – boredom added to the boredom of pre-written GPs) my invitation is addressed to those who provide information.
Enough. Enough smoke in the eyes. Enough giving credit to those who have built the best championship defeats on completely wrong developments. Enough pretending to be surprised by the embarrassing performances of the Red car when there is no concrete reason to expect a comeback. While others grow, Maranello still needs to figure it out. It has been years.
Who should lift Ferrari up? The same ones who have never designed a winning car? Where is the leadership? Has Frederic Vasseur understood the mess he (or they) got into? Does this Ferrari have the strength to attract the best engineers from other teams? With these premises, what can we expect in 2024?
There are many questions, but so far we have not received any answers. But we have sloping side pods. It can’t rain forever. Maybe.
