Ferrari’s goal for the 2023 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix remains the same: to perform at its best. However, at this point in the season, this seems far from certain, as was clear in England and Hungary. Two very different circuits that have produced the same alarming result for the Scuderia: inconsistent performance.
The reasons for this scenario are diverse, and the factors contributing to such performance remain mostly unknown to the Maranello team. The technicians are working hard to understand the complex setup of the SF-23, as its performance fluctuates significantly, making it challenging to assess as a whole, especially now that its aerodynamic designer is no longer with the Maranello team.
The 7.004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Stavelot is an opportunity to change this trend, wipe the slate clean, and demonstrate that, when everything comes together, the car is not as bad as it may seem. To achieve this, the Italian side will face the usual trade-off: efficiency vs. load. This equation will dominate the course through the Ardennes mountains. An aeromechanical puzzle where the perfect correlation between the two factors will provide the best lap times. For this reason, the Italian team has worked to stabilize the aerodynamic platform.
The unique characteristics of the Ferrari car should favor good performance in two sectors, T1 and T3, which better suit the key characteristics of the SF-23. However, in T2, the chronic lack of load and the resulting difficulty in handling high-speed corners will pose a challenge. Ferrari might consider a slightly higher load setup to compensate, given the substantial power available from its power unit.
Belgium GP 2023 / Ferrari: A strong emphasis on the power unit
In the first sector of the track, the throttle will remain open for 24 seconds, covering a distance of about 2 km. This highlights the significant workload the ICE engine will face, operating at full capacity for approximately 73% of the lap. The same scenario repeats in the last stretch of the circuit. We are talking about 1.5 km where the cars will go flat-out for a total time close to 20 seconds.
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Underlining the power effect is crucial, as it can gain approximately 2.5 tenths per 10 horsepower. Ferrari boasts the best internal combustion engine, and based on the information gathered by FUnoanalisitecnica, the technicians in Maranello aim to build the weekend around the critical role of the internal combustion engine.
However, the hybrid part remains a sore spot, as the system’s efficiency is not on par with Red Bull’s. That’s why the engineers have studied various mappings leading up to the weekend to enhance the two motor generators and reduce the gap. It will be essential to optimize the use of the available 120Kw (160HP) to avoid power cuts on the straights.
The hybrid part’s influence on the overall lap performance is medium to high. The MGU-H, through exhaust gas enthalpy, will recover nearly 4,000Kj, one of the highest values in the entire championship. Meanwhile, the MGU-K, through kinetic energy recovery, will yield a value of 830kj. The combination provides a bonus of 4,830 Kj, resulting in a time advantage of about 3.9 seconds per lap, with an increase in top speeds of 19 km/h.
Considering the layout of the Belgian track combined with the aerodynamic settings of medium-low load, fuel consumption at Spa-Francorchamps will generally be low. The cars will require 96 kg (2.15 kg) of fuel to complete the 44 laps covering the total race distance of 308.052 km.
Therefore, there will be no significant fuel management problems, and the drivers will be free to push to the maximum in this aspect. Note: every 10 kg of weight corresponds to a time delay of 2 tenths per lap. Among the technical challenges to be faced in Belgium are the altitude differences combined with the significant G-forces that the new generation cars can generate.
This factor causes a tedious “shaking” of the lubrication systems, with the gearbox being one of the most stressed mechanical parts. Considering approximately 66 gear changes per race lap, the cars’ transmission will be subject to significant stress. Ferrari will need to pay close attention to reliability, as it has been an area where they have struggled in the past.
Source: Alessandro Arcari for FUnoanalisitecnica
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