Ferrari onboard analysis: how SF-24 rear innovations are yielding desired results at Albert Park

A lively Ferrari and a comfortable Charles Leclerc navigating through the curves surrounding Albert Park Lake. This emerged from the second free practice session for the Grand Prix that will be held in Melbourne on Sunday. A track that has long been friendly to the Maranello team, despite last year turning into a nightmare. Twelve months later, the situation has reversed with a strong showing from the Prancing Horse, fully aware of its potential. Let’s see, from the telemetry, how the Ferrari SF-24 behaved among the curves of the Australian GP, a performance also due to the innovations introduced at the rear.

Ferrari SF-24 Rear Innovations

Ferrari arrived in Australia with a car yet to be fully explored and with maximum potential yet to be expressed. The week-long break between Saudi Arabia and Australia allowed the Maranello technicians to analyze the data from the first two outings to optimize the available package. The first object of analysis is the rear suspension, which with its new geometry immediately yielded excellent results. However, the new arrangement of arms and tie rods did not immediately allow the technicians to extract the maximum performance. From what emerged in Melbourne, the Ferrari SF-24 seems to have found the right “grounding” at the rear, with a setup decidedly sharp and suitable for the fast track.

In addition to the new suspension, another innovation emerged at the rear of the SF-24, namely a modification to the support pillar of the rear wing. We’re talking about a micro-aerodynamic change aimed not at desperately seeking downforce, but at cleaning up the flows in that area. Positioned as such, the element aims to correct the hot gases exiting the hood and directed towards the beam wing. Despite its “corrective” purpose, its placement allows for better load management and optimization in a critical area like that.

Telemetry Analysis FP2 Ferrari SF-24 Australia

The telemetry of Charles Leclerc’s fast lap doesn’t lie, and in comparison with Max Verstappen, the strengths of the SF-24 emerge. On the mapping side, the two cars used a very similar ICE and MGU-H strategy, confirmed by almost identical top speeds: 322 for Verstappen and 321 for Charles Leclerc. Ferrari performs admirably in cornering with average speeds, with Charles Leclerc managing to navigate turns 1-2, 3, and 4 with a higher minimum speed than the Dutchman. In the first sequence, it proves to be well-balanced, thanks also to the right setup of the rear suspension supporting it in the fast change of direction. Excellent insertion in the 3-4 stretch where the mechanical grip of the SF-24 emerges, allowing Leclerc to gain a tenth of a second. At the end of the first sector, the Monegasque marks a -0.280 s on Max Verstappen.

In the second sector, further confirmations of the goodness of this Australian SF-24 arrive. In the fastest part of the track, where aerodynamic efficiency is exalted, the Prancing Horse car seems not to suffer from a slightly higher level of downforce compared to the RB20. Some differences emerge in the cornering of turn 7 and the fast turns 9-10. The lower cornering speed compared to Max Verstappen seems worrisome, but the traction demonstrated in the first part of the track hints at a slight sandbagging by Charles Leclerc. Even in gear management, we see Charles Leclerc shifting to a gear that increases engine revs, causing a slight instability in delivering power to the ground. This may have caused the slight slowdown in this very fast double change of direction.

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Continuing the lap, however, a significantly superior SF-24 emerges, where we see the excellent cornering seen in S1. In this S3 with 90-degree turns, hard braking, and traction, emerges a Ferrari capable of braking later, arriving at turn 13 with a speed 10 km/h higher than the RB20. Despite the higher top speed, Charles Leclerc manages to brake about 10 meters later, all to the advantage of cornering speed. Everything is confirmed by the live gap at the bottom, with Leclerc managing to extend the advantage to almost -0.450 s on Verstappen in that section. An intense qualifying session is on the horizon, we’ll see who comes out on top.