Enrico Sampò, Ferrari vehicle modelling and simulation team leader, explains how the Maranello team team prepares for the 2022 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend at the Miami International Autodrome around the Hard Rock Stadium:
In modern-day Formula 1, simulation has pretty much replaced on-track testing. How do you help the team prepare for a Grand Prix weekend?
Enrico Sampò: “The driving simulator is a key element in preparing for a race. The work starts several weeks before an event, looking at the previous year’s race if possible. Then, a test driver undertakes several sessions to get an understanding of tyre behaviour, to predict car balance, to check the behaviour of special components and lastly, to test different set-up options. A few days before the event, the race drivers and their group of engineers tackle a session on the simulator to provide their input to the preparation and car set-up. With a new circuit like Miami, Charles and Carlos will also use the simulator to learn the track and to go through the various race weekend procedures.”
From your point of view, when is the first time that you can see if the simulator work has been effective?
Enrico Sampò: “That would usually be during the first free practice session on Friday as that’s when you get the first set of data and driver comments about the track. This is when we can compare the simulator data to the actual data from the track. With a new venue such as Miami, it’s also important to check actual track data, such as the nature of the kerbs and the presence or absence of elements that the simulator model did not foresee. The correlation between how the car behaves on track and in the simulator is refined over the weekend, but having a good starting point is definitely essential so that the track engineers can focus on the details.”
Miami is a completely new track, meaning that simulator work is even more important. What are its characteristics and how did you prepare for it along with the two drivers?
Enrico Sampò: “The fact it is a new circuit means that simulation is even more important. We expect the track to be quick, with some high speed corners in the first sector as well as some rather slow ones especially in sector three. There are some very long straights, with three DRS zones and good opportunities for overtaking. In terms of car balance, it is definitely a complex circuit and it will be important to find the right compromise to suit the various corner types and to run the car efficiently down the long straights. We have prepared for this event going through our usual procedures, being particularly careful as we are less certain than usual about the data we have. That means we are having to predict a wider than usual range of conditions and problems. Charles and Carlos both spent a lot of time on the simulator to learn the track and to explore the car’s possible limitations, while trying different set-up solutions to optimise car balance and lap time.”
Leave a Reply