Scuderia Ferrari does not want to relive a troubled weekend like the one in Zandvoort, where the Prancing Horse team was forced to use a medium downforce rear wing, even though the Dutch GP track required a maximum downforce configuration.
The Italian Grand Prix, with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finishing third and fourth, rekindled the enthusiasm of the Maranello team, which approaches Marina Bay with the prospect of avoiding a performance similar to what they experienced in the Netherlands, repeating the disappointment seen in Budapest during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Scuderia has worked on the maximum downforce setup: Pirelli wet tire tests at Fiorano by the two regular drivers confirmed that the SF-23 can deliver reasonable performance even with wings similar to those used in Monte Carlo. In Zandvoort, these wings generated only drag without providing the necessary vertical support to the rear.
To make the task of the engineers led by Enrico Cardile easier, the Marina Bay promoters also removed two chicanes (from turn 16 to 19) to speed up the track, making it about a dozen seconds faster and reducing critical aspects that could challenge the red car.
In addition to the maximum downforce wings, reinforced at several points to comply with TD018, the Ferrari comes with a very open engine cover: six heat exhaust outlets on each side with deeper openings than usual. The low average speed combined with high temperatures and humidity advise sacrificing some efficiency to ensure the reliability of power unit 066/10.
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