Ferrari, Project 676: SF-24 car has significant development margins

Scuderia Ferrari has given its best with the SF-24, but after three days of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, the unanimous feeling is that the Red Bull – Max Verstappen combination still seems to be out of reach for the competition. As every year, absolute performance leaves much to be desired, unfortunately. Therefore, the almost constant presence of the red cars at the top of the time charts, also unfortunately, is not news that should make the men of Maranello rest on their laurels.

As anticipated yesterday by Enrico Cardile, technical director of the Prancing Horse, a satisfactory correlation has been certified between the data collected on the track and those from the simulations carried out back at home in Maranello. Working on a technical project where the behavior can be predicted is a fundamental factor, necessary to extract the maximum potential from the car and implement evolutionary rather than corrective developments. The feeling is that the SF-24 is light years ahead of the basic specification from the previous Formula 1 season.

When a car is stable in handling, it instills greater confidence in the drivers, and as a result, lap times can be significantly improved. In long runs, there were no worrying declines in lap times, although the different programs of the teams do not allow for a qualitative evaluation of how good the lap times actually were. The teams’ professionals, through the data at their disposal, only have an approximate idea of their real potential.

For example, Lando Norris stated that the McL38 is quite far from Max and thinks it is also behind Ferrari. Helmut Marko, usually not prone to pre-tactics, believes that Red Bull is still ahead but does not enjoy a huge advantage, estimated by the historic Austrian consultant at three-tenths over the first competitor. In this whirlwind of opinions, times, and conjectures, the analysis of the team principal of the Scuderia Ferrari is the most reliable summary.

Ferrari SF-24: the balance is positive.

The French executive, compared to last season’s tests, claims that the SF-24 has shown significantly higher consistency. We are talking about an key characteristic that will allow Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to develop the Italian car with more certainties than doubts. No one knows how much fuel Red Bull loaded in the race pace simulation, but the genuinely astonishing times printed by Max Verstappen do not unsettle the historic Maranello-based team.

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At the moment, the team led by Fred Vasseur is focusing exclusively on itself. The Ferrari team principal stated that the high-fuel test carried out by Spaniard Carlos Sainz was excellent, and the drivers are confident that the car is better than last year. Red Bull is still the benchmark, even though the French manager is certain that the red car is in a much better situation than in the 2023 Formula 1 championship, as the car is easier to drive and has significant development margins.

Another factor emphasized by the French engineer concerns the sensitivity of the SF-24 to external factors, such as temperature and wind conditions. It was crucial to observe how the red car appeared exempt from receptivity to these environmental factors that severely penalized the base specification of the SF-23. Nevertheless, the feet of the French boss are firmly on the ground, assigning, with pre-tactics, the status of clear favourite to Max Verstappen. This despite the red car being close, and future upgrades can keep the championship alive.

Fred Vasseur’s comments leave room for hope, despite the low profile of the team seeming a constant since the car’s presentation. Probably, this is the best news for Ferrari fans worldwide and, in general, for Formula 1, a category that cannot afford another overwhelming domination like the one imposed by Red Bull in 2023. In just a few days, we will find out if Fred Vasseur’s hopes can turn into fantastic certainties or, on the contrary, dissolve in the wind, forced to listen to the Austrian anthem every race Sunday.