The Ferrari F1 team is reintroducing the aerodynamic package from Barcelona that disappointed up until its rejection at Silverstone. The technicians at Maranello have worked hard to exploit the increased downforce of the new configuration. The SF-24 is relying on the characteristics of Budapest to become more competitive on a very slow and hot track.
Ferrari is “betting” on Hungary. The team, which fell to fourth place at Silverstone, is seeking a prompt reaction at the Hungaroring, the first round of the second half of the 2024 Formula 1 championship, and the penultimate race before the summer break.
At the British Grand Prix, a fast track with many sweeping corners, the SF-24 reverted to the aerodynamic configuration from the Imola weekend in hopes of limiting the car’s bouncing, which caused sudden losses of downforce and thus an unstable car behavior that negatively affected not only the drivers’ handling but also the tire longevity.
In Budapest, however, Ferrari is returning to the aerodynamic update package that was introduced with great expectations at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona and that did not meet the Maranello team’s expectations in Spain and then at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz complained about the very annoying return of “porpoising” and, although the data showed an increase in aerodynamic load, the results saw Ferrari slip behind McLaren, Red Bull, and even Mercedes. This was disheartening for Ferrari, which also saw the resignation of Enrico Cardile, chassis technical director, who is heading to Aston Martin.
In reality, Ferrari’s technicians have been working nonstop to find a solution to the SF-24’s problems. “The week off before Hungary allowed us to thoroughly analyze all the data collected in the last three races,” admitted team principal Fred Vasseur. “We found that the recently introduced upgrade package brought the expected benefits in terms of downforce but also triggered side effects that worsened the driving comfort for Charles and Carlos.”
“We worked hard at the factory, and in Budapest, we will bring an evolved version of the floor that we believe will give the drivers a car with which they can perform at their best.”
F1 journalist and Technical Drawer Giorgio Piola, very active in the pit lane, caught the Ferrari being checked by the mechanics. The images confirm Fred Vasseur’s anticipation: the SF-24 is in maximum downforce configuration, and since aerodynamic efficiency matters less like in Monaco, vents have been opened to ensure the necessary cooling for the 066/12 power unit and brakes, given that the low average speed is combined with the track being in a basin with minimal ventilation and high humidity.
The slits on the sides of the bazooka are now perfectly symmetrical with three very prominent gills on each side, but to avoid over-enlarging the air outlet at the rear of the engine cover, there is also a small vent opened in front of the pull rod lever, following experiments developed in that area by Red Bull.
Ferrari aims to reposition the team in the areas expected by Maranello, despite the leveling achieved by the top four teams in the Constructors’ Championship standings: Ferrari has not kept up with the challenge of updates. In the last four GPs, Ferrari has collected only 50 points compared to McLaren’s 111 and Mercedes’ 125. Red Bull has also dropped, with Max Verstappen alone collecting 90 points.
The decline of Ferrari must be halted starting from this event to restore enthusiasm to a very disappointed and depressed environment.
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