A long wait which seems to become even longer. The new floor will not make its track debut in Singapore: these are the rumors that reported by Motorsport Italy, according to sources from the Maranello team. Nothing official yet, but it is unlikely that the solution tried by Carlos Sainz on the F1-75 that he drove on 20 September in Fiorano can be seen in Marina Bay.
The data collected by the Spanish driver in the 15 km “demo test” (five laps of the Scuderia’s home track only) were positive, so it is strange to see that the Italian side does not want to bring a version of the floor that should have helped Ferrari fight for the victory without even having a feedback on the track during free practice.
And, then, in the Singapore paddock there were those who were saying that the Scuderia was postponing the plan to use of the updated floor for budget cap reasons. The last report of the “auditors” of the accounts seems to have determined the Maranello team to put on hold this development for the F1-75, perhaps keeping it for the next season.
This would be similar to Red Bull’s recent approach, as the Austrian team also homologated at the end of July a new lighter chassis which has not been seen on the track so far. And there is no need because the current RB18 wins hands down with Max Verstappen even without the latest upgrade that could be seen early next season. But the costs of these parts designed, produced and never used in which budget are to be counted?
The issue if a team, like Red Bull, having a technical advantage today, can perhaps spend the last part of the budget this season to use the updates next year, thus inflating the economic availability in 2023? The Scuderia, therefore, does not want to fall spend all the budget also in view of next season.
We have already pointed this out several times: the FIA must give a clear answer on this subject. But if Ferrari did not bring its new floor, they would be in the same situation, because the technicians from Maranello worked hard on the latest updates.
It is more likely that the solution would not perform at its best in Marina Bay, but it could become decisive in Suzuka rather than in Austin where there are fast corners. The latest simulations of the F1-75 in a high load configuration may have advised the team to stick to familiar concepts.
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After all, Fernando Alonso said it clearly when speaking of the Alpine: “We have a new floor here and we will use it all weekend. The team is convinced that it can make us take a step forward, while I think we won’t see so much in Singapore because it is a strange track, but the true gains will be discovered at Suzuka ”.
The former Ferrari driver was clear and, perhaps, expressed a concept that also applies to Ferrari. The wait, therefore, will get really long …
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