Matteo Togninalli, a 47-year-old Italian engineer, is the head of the track engineers in Maranello. With his stature, he towers over Ferrari’s pit wall and is a figure that certainly doesn’t go unnoticed. With a degree in mechanical engineering from the Polytechnic University of Milan, Matteo joined the FIAT Research Center in 2003, where he found the path that opened the doors to the Scuderia.
He started at the Remote Garage, then became a vehicle engineer and performance manager. Since 2015, he has been leading the technical staff on the track. So, it’s only right to ask him for an assessment of the three days of testing in Bahrain before the opening race…
“In the test, we focused on mapping and understanding the new car, with a particular focus on drivability and race pace. The tire specification has not changed compared to 2023, so less emphasis was placed on tire analysis and understanding activities, and we focused more on the car as a whole.”
“Although the time of the sessions was reduced due to interruptions caused by problems with the track drains, we collected the data we wanted and covered the mileage we set as our goal, which is very important for us to consolidate some aspects related to reliability.”
The SF-24 gave the impression of responding well to adjustments…
“Obviously, the understanding and optimization work of a new single-seater is not completed within the three days of testing, which are clearly not sufficient, but we were still able to have an initial overall picture. The correlation with simulations and the simulator, as well as with the wind tunnel, has been sufficiently good, and this is obviously a positive aspect.”
The indications, therefore, have been positive: last year’s problems seem to have been solved…
“We found on the track what we expected after the virtual sessions with both drivers, both in absolute terms and relative to 2023, and we also validated the car’s response to different changes and options. This aspect is crucial to using the various tools that help us optimize the package and for the developments to come. In terms of feedback from the drivers, the car has proven good in terms of drivability and stability under changing conditions, which was one of the objectives we set and believe can help us especially for race pace and tire management.”
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What should the fans of the Prancing Horse expect from the red car in the first race weekend?
“From what we’ve seen in testing, it’s very complex to have a clear picture; each team has a different approach in terms of fuel load, tire usage, and overall approach to work on the track. Also, the Bahrain circuit is characterized by quite significant changes in track conditions (temperature, wind) throughout the day with effects on lap time that are far from negligible, so laps achieved at different times are not entirely comparable.”
“In general, I expect a situation not too different from the end of the 2023 season, with the reigning champions showing excellent potential, on par with our direct rivals from last year. Defining a true order is probably not yet appropriate, but the gaps between one team and another will likely be reduced to a few tenths.”
What aspect could make a difference at the start of the season?
“At the beginning of the season, the fundamental variables are understanding the car and reliability. We are at the beginning, so whoever has done a better job of understanding how to use the single-seater well and has a clear idea of how to extract its potential can have an advantage.”
“As the season progresses, this aspect will tend to level off, and the differences will translate into differences in pure potential. Aspects related to reliability will also be understood and strengthened thanks to the increasing mileage, so at the beginning of the season, everyone is more exposed. Bahrain is also characterized by changes in environmental conditions, especially asphalt temperature and wind, which have a significant impact on the car’s performance and balance, so the ability to follow and adapt will be crucial. Thinking about Saturday, on the other hand, the Bahrain Grand Prix presents quite high tire degradation (compared to the seasonal average), so tire management will be a key point for race pace.”
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