Ferrari F1 – Since the first 2021 Formula 1 Grand Prix held in Bahrain and even more so after the last race in Spain, Scuderia Ferrari is the team that has shown the greatest gains over their rivals in terms of performance as compared to last season.
Formula 1 had to adapt to diffuser and floor aerodynamic restrictions introduced by the 2021 regulation. We know, even before the presentation of the SF21, that development has focused on the rear, particularly in the part relating to the gearbox.
David Sanchez, Veichle Concept of Ferrari’s Chassis Management, explained to Tech Talk (Formula 1 in-depth program) how the team tried to exploit every possibility allowed by the regulation. With the use of tokens the SF21 saw a shrinkage of the gearbox. This development has allowed the modification and repositioning of the suspension arms without introducing updated parts. According to the data from the Maranello team, this should result in an increase in the air flow directed to the rear end, increasing the aerodynamic load generated by the floor.
This explains the reason why Ferrari wanted to dedicate itself to the rear end, considering wider margins for improvement compared to the SF1000 which struggled so much during the 2020 Formula One season. This did not allow the possibility to work on narrowing the nose, remaining, in fact, one of the few with this concept. However, the engineers worked on the outer skin, revised to introduce a small cape.
Through the better management of the flows directed to the bargeboards and to the other aerodynamic elements in the center of the car, a more effective use of the floor and therefore more load at the rear has been guaranteed.
The technical circuit of Barcelona highlighted all these technical measures with great alignment between the simulator data, another great criticality of the previous car. Will Ferrari be able to prove its adaptability also on the next tracks?
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