The birth of the highly anticipated 2024 Ferrari car is progressing according to the plans set by the Maranello team, adhering to a schedule that allows no delays for shipping materials to Bahrain. The car will now be equipped for initial tests on the dynamic test bench: a meticulous and precise process through which technicians can evaluate the first data from the 80th Ferrari Formula 1 car.
The SF-24 has been completed in the assembly department of the Scuderia Ferrari, and it appears that the operation was elevated by the customary “fire-up” – the first ignition of the power unit to ensure that the assembly has been executed with precision, checking the seals of various systems.
Now, the red car can be transferred to the dynamic test bench in Maranello, where it will be equipped (with over 15 kg of sensors and wiring) to undergo a series of crucial tests preceding its on-track debut scheduled for February 13th at Fiorano. This debut will consist of a brief 15-kilometer shakedown, permitted by the F1 regulations for teams.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will be able to complete just 5 laps of the home track (which is 3 km in the standard layout), getting a feel for the cockpit’s ergonomics and ensuring everything is in order.
It will be a unique day as the car will run as planned, but the launch will happen “cold” via the web, without inviting the press and TV to the unveiling. Technicians will focus on checks for the SF-24 because the next day, on February 14th, the red car will be the star of a filming day.
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For the Maranello staff, it will be an important day: in addition to commercial filming, the two drivers will conduct the first real evaluation test of the car, as this year allows for 200 km of running, double compared to last year.
This crucial session (hoping for favorable weather on Valentine’s Day) will be the last before the three-day tests in Bahrain from February 21st to 23rd, preceding the opening race of the 2024 Formula 1 season at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain.
The sequence of events must proceed smoothly, as the schedule is tight, respecting the timelines for shipping the car to the Persian Gulf. The car on the dynamic test bench will undergo a series of functional tests, providing initial data for comparison with simulation systems.
The SF-24 will also undergo long runs during which “weather” conditions will be modified, with temperatures and pressures adjusted based on the upcoming Grand Prix under consideration.
