Ferrari: new fluid structure above SF-23 floor, probable updates for suspension keel. New fluid structure above SF-23 floor.

Scuderia Ferrari has started the development of the SF-23 single-seater. It is not a revolution but rather targeted corrections to improve the car’s design philosophy. The updates focus on two main areas of the floor: the central portion and the diffuser. Regarding the sharp edge of the floor, it can be seen from the image that a bulge has been created in the relevant area.

This feature has only been accentuated as it was already present. It is difficult to say exactly what the technicians are trying to achieve, but one possible explanation is that the modification could create a “slight overpressure” above the floor to improve the flow of fluid towards the floor, specifically towards the side of the diffuser.

Ferrari: new flow management on the SF-23
This strategy could be really important in directing a greater amount of clean air towards the diffuser through the so-called “mouse-hole.” Additionally, this measure should be able to create a variation in the fluid structure in the area below the floor.

In addition to this, as confirmed by the international federation through publicly released documentation, some further modifications have been introduced. However, they are not visible at the moment. Assuming a scenario similar to what we have seen on the floor, the updates could have appeared on the keel and diffuser, i.e., the central area of the element, as explained by the Italian website FUnoanalisitecnica in a recent article.

Some changes had already been made to the “keel”. We know that Red Bull has a very complex design of this element and many are converging towards the solutions adopted on the Anglo-Austrian cars. In fact, since last year, Red Bull has been using a design of this element that appears very “jagged”.

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We are talking about some steps on the keel line that tend to generate several local peaks of overpressure, with the clear aim of generating additional aerodynamic load. Obviously, the fluid structure becomes much more complicated in this way and, consequently, not easy to correlate. It remains to be seen as soon as possible, through further images, how this “intimate” area on the Ferrari SF-23 has been modified.