The aerodynamic team at Ferrari did not hesitate to borrow the winning concepts from the RB19 and adapt them to the red car, and the results are finally showing in Austria. Let’s discover the impact of the new aerodynamic package on the SF-23, which allowed Charles Leclerc to challenge Max Verstappen for pole position.
Has Ferrari found the right path with the SF-23? The Maranello team prefers to wait and see the race result before evaluating the performance of the red car, not only in terms of single-lap pace but also in long runs. They want to understand if the tire degradation issue is being overcome, as it seemed in Canada, a track with minimal tire wear for everyone.
In the Spanish Grand Prix, Ferrari introduced the new side pods with a lower undercut, although it was limited due to the presence of the lower intrusion cone, which prevented an extreme solution like those of Red Bull and Aston Martin.
The aerodynamic team at Ferrari also made revisions to the upper part of the side pods, giving up the large cavity and outlets for hot air to introduce a slide on the outer half that descends towards the floor, along with a channel that aims to improve the efficiency of the beam wing and rear wing. The team stuttered in Barcelona, disappointing expectations because evidently these updates were designed to work in conjunction with the completely redesigned floor and front wing, which made its debut on the Fiorano Filming Day before being seen at the Red Bull Ring.
Now that the aerodynamic package is more complete, the red car is delivering more consistent results in line with expectations, bringing smiles to the faces of the two drivers and the technical staff led by Enrico Cardile. It is clear that Ferrari had no reservations in following the path of Red Bull’s solutions, which have become a benchmark.
The trend for summer developments across various teams (excluding Mercedes, who are following their own path) is to adopt the successful concepts from Red Bull and Aston Martin. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that we see convergence in performance.
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The front wing of the SF-23 represents a change in philosophy compared to the version used until Montreal. Diego Tondi‘s aerodynamic team has aimed to increase the outwash effect by enhancing the flow outside the rear wheel, in order to better clean the wake of the front wheel. The main profile is no longer the first flap but the second one, on which the nose rests. It now features a more streamlined shape, reducing drag.
New are also the two additional flaps, as well as their connection to the completely new side panel, as the attachment points of the elements have all been moved further back, creating a channel that enhances the outwash effect. The adjustable flap does not extend all the way to the endplate because it is the third element, in the outermost portion, that exhibits two small profiles.
And, just like on the RB19, we have seen a small element appear to close off the upper part of the channel towards the trailing edge. The side panel itself no longer has a trapezoidal shape and has adopted a more rounded design at the top, while the external flow diverter seen halfway up no longer has an S-shaped profile but points upwards to increase downforce.
The floor is also entirely new: in addition to the more cambered bargeboard that prevents turbulence from the front wheel from dirtying the low-pressure sidewalk area, we can observe floor fences that now protrude from the mouth of the Venturi channels. They have taken on a more rounded shape and are inclined.
Giorgio Piola’s beautiful illustration above highlights how Ferrari has taken “inspiration” from Red Bull’s floor, which served as the basis for the development of the SF-23.
In Maranello, they have finally abandoned the search for peak aerodynamic load (in wind tunnel testing with the new configuration, they found 12 points of efficiency that had never been seen on the track), choosing instead to combat porpoising with a sidewalk that features protruding lungs in several places. These elements are necessary to reduce the internal pressure to which the flow is subjected, ensuring better air filling and, therefore, a more stable flow that makes the car less prone to driver reactions and more suitable for optimal tire usage.
Will it be enough to return to winning ways? It’s difficult to say, but the ambition of the Prancing Horse is to once again become the true challenger to the reigning world champion team, leaving Aston Martin and Mercedes behind, as they have consistently been ahead so far…
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