With just a month remaining until the grand unveiling of Ferrari’s contender for the F1 World Championship, anticipation is building for the February 13th presentation in Maranello. The event promises a low-profile, essential reveal, in alignment with Frederic Vasseur’s team’s subdued winter, eschewing grand proclamations. A Fiorano shakedown, mirroring last year’s approach, is slated to follow.
As the eagerly awaited third car born under the new regulations, this model holds significance not only for the upcoming 2024 Formula 1 season but also as a reliable foundation for 2025, marking the culmination of this regulatory cycle.
Scuderia Ferrari’s aerodynamic strategy leverages the front of the sidepods to manage the wake generated by the front tires. In contrast to other teams adopting the downwash concept pioneered by Red Bull at the beginning of the previous season, the Italian side continued with its unique concepts in collaboration with Mike Elliott’s team, showcasing large bellies and rear inwash.
However, both concepts faced developmental challenges due to new anti-hopping regulations introduced last season. Ferrari’s technical director, Enrico Cardile, admitted that their concept proved less performant during pre-season tests, prompting an immediate shift in aerodynamic development objectives.
While Mercedes had already explored alternative avenues in the preceding winter, Ferrari stuck with its approach. The F1-75’s exceptional performance had influenced part of the team to persist with an aerodynamic concept featuring a wide front section of the bellies, effective in managing the turbulent wake of the front tires.
The Maranello team utilized the belly inlet to redirect turbulent trails generated by the rolling front tires away from the bottom, creating an outward push. The inwash effect in the rear, specifically in the Coca-Cola area, aimed to channel airflow to the upper part of the diffuser for maximum extraction.
Choosing to maintain the same aerodynamic concept for the SF-23 single-seater led to limited chassis revisions during the previous winter. The SF-23’s design was an evolution of the F1-75, addressing some of its limitations.
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The SF-23 faced constraints due to choices made in the previous winter, hindering progress in the current season. However, the team approached Red Bull’s downwash bellies concept to understand and incorporate elements in preparation for the 2024 Formula One championship.
The 2024 single-seater, born from a distinct project, features 95% new parts compared to the SF-23. The revolutionized chassis, with the anti-knock cone positioned lower, allowed technicians to create a substantial undercut under the belly, focusing on improving rear airflow, as explained by F1 expert Piergiuseppe Donadoni for formu1a.uno.
The outermost diverter’s design at the bottom entrance will undergo a complete revision, resembling elements seen on Adrian Newey’s car. While drawing inspiration from Red Bull, Ferrari emphasizes the importance of understanding and tailoring specific solutions for an exceptionally developable car.
In analyzing various solutions in the wind tunnel, Scuderia Ferrari opted not to adopt the aggressive ‘waterslides’ seen on McLaren or Aston Martin. Instead, the 2024 model builds upon the SF-23 concept, albeit more evolved, featuring a uniform profile in the descent akin to the Red Bull RB19’s belly.
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