The 15 km demo that Ferrari carried out at the Fiorano circuit allowed us to observe the F1-75 from behind, given the fact that the images released by the Maranello team after the presentation denied us this view.
The Tifosi fell in love at first glance with the ground-effect single-seater designed by Enrico Cardile and David Sanchez: the frontal images showed all the aggressiveness of the F1-75 in the first laps of the track.
Mattia Binotto, team principal of the Scuderia, said very clearly that the aerodynamic configuration with the double floor was chosen after a long analysis of the two design opportunities, suggesting that the ramp structures have been evaluated, but in the wind tunnel they did not give the results that have been seen with high elements which are very hollowed out at the top.
According to the information that was leaked from the Ferrari Racing Department, there are those who speak of a 7% more aerodynamic efficiency which emerged in favor of the F1-75 which was initially seen, as compared to the “nude look” that was later discarded.
We will have to wait for the tests in Bahrain, rather than those in Barcelona that will begin on February 23, to give a precise answer on which ground-effect single-seater configuration the team will have to look at more carefully because it will also give more performance in development work.
The images of the F1-75 car taken from behind during the shakedown at Fiorano show us the existence of a beam wing in two elements that helps extract air from the large rear extractor where the flow is channeled into the two Venturi channels.
The diffuser is very different from that seen on the FIA model car: it has less rounded edges to make the most of the volume granted by the regulation with the squared shapes in search of the maximum aerodynamic load that can be generated by the car body.
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The F1-75 certainly does not go unnoticed also for the generous bonnet: very much tapered in the upper part, with a minimum airbox air intake that requires the need to mount a vertical drift to respect the minimum volumes. It becomes more bulky at the bottom in the area of the gills which must vent the heat produced by the radiators.
The 13 openings (the first three are horizontal on the side, while the others become vertical as they climb onto the hood) highlight the size of a car that doesn’t look slim at all. But the “curvy” Ferrari seems to be useful in extracting the heat from the power unit 066/7 which this year should return to roar with its 1,000 horsepower to challenge Mercedes and Honda in the battle of engines where the Scuderia aspires to be the best again.
After all, in Mercedes there are some fears that the aerodynamics of their new car may not be ideal because of a too tight figure that could force the Mercedes to review the cooling with larger vents in the tail of the too miniaturized W13.
The response of the Montmelò track will be decisive in evaluating some very important aspects that come before the search for performance.
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