Ferrari consistently aims for the podium and does not rule out the possibility of victory during the 2023 Formula One season. The Red Bull RB19 is undoubtedly one of the most dominant cars in recent Formula One history. It is for several reasons. One of them is the genius of Adrian Newey, a true phenomenon who year after year is able to design brilliant solutions.
Then there is Red Bull’s dynamic department, the flagship of a team that has long understood the importance of fully exploiting the tires. Because the quick lap brings momentary glory. Beautiful, but ultimately fleeting. While race pace, through the perfect tire management, translates into resounding victories, titles, fame, and money.
Another notable merit concerns the motor aspect. When Honda seemed on the verge of collapse, after years of setbacks in the ill-fated partnership with McLaren, the tide turned through the satellite team Toro Rosso. It was a gymnasium lasting a championship, where the Japanese manufacturer extracted the deepest secrets of the power unit, subsequently providing a worthy boost to the Milton Keynes squad.
Not to mention Max Verstappen, a splendid and now mature performer, capable of adding value to the team. All achieved through a concrete union of intentions. A long-term vision and political power, assimilated during the recent racing campaigns with utmost determination. Clear ideas, in short, everything that unfortunately still eludes Ferrari at the moment.
Ferrari doesn’t give up, continues to believe in victories
The opening sentence of this article refers to the statements made by Carlos Sainz during his appearance on the Spanish radio program “El Larguero” on Cadena SER. However, more than conviction, the message from the Spaniard sounds like hope. Ending a world championship without even a stage victory, which may be unnecessary for the championship but still useful for morale, would paint an even darker picture. A canvas on which the prancing horse does not want to be immortalized.
Last Sunday in the Spanish Grand Prix, the Maranello team reiterated a concept: the issues related to tire management are still far from being resolved. Carlos Sainz knows this well, for example, starting from the front row with so much, too much illusion. On paper, the podium seemed possible. Especially considering Sergio Perez’s poor qualifying, starting from eleventh place.
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Despite the lackluster and hardly explainable weekend for the Aston Martin revelation, being out of contention for the top positions, car number 55 had to settle for a “measly” fifth place. This was the result of the great instability experienced during the race, which effectively opened the doors for Mercedes as well as the comeback of the Mexican driver for Red Bull.
The anger is there. Denying it would be futile. The level of driving from the Ferrari drivers remains very high. Apart from a few small errors, caused by the need to push the limits of the SF-23, they are certainly not the cause of the poor results obtained. The Maranello single-seater in some ways resembles the Mercedes W04. An amazing car in qualifying that destroyed its tires in just a few laps when the tanks were full, as explained by F1 expert Alessandro Arcari for FUnoanalisitecnica.
Ferrari: Update to be confirmed
Validating an improvement on the track is not an easy task. One race is not enough. Without tests, whether they are free or planned, the only possible feedback is gathered during practice sessions. Two Spanish sessions, the third one in the rain, where the Maranello team tried to fully test the recent modifications introduced: narrower side pods, a downwash slide, a revised floor, and rear wing.
But the downforce produced by the SF-23 remains insufficient. Furthermore, in an attempt to reduce the efficiency gap with the RB19, they tend to adopt lighter setups to decrease the induced drag from the wings. It’s a classic case of cutting corners, in practice. A scenario that is difficult to resolve without significant actions.
However, as mentioned, it would not be fair to dismiss the aerodynamic interventions we observed at Montmelo. A couple more Grand Prix races are needed. Covering many kilometers to definitively find the right path. A path that, by necessity, must establish a clear direction to start afresh.
The dynamic Ferrari department should not be discarded. The Ferrari engineers know their stuff. This is demonstrated by the past, where several technicians “discarded” by the Italian team have found success elsewhere. However, a new organization is needed. A working methodology that allows each individual to express themselves to the fullest. Without this “simple” factor, no matter how great the effort, it will never lead to anything good.
