Ferrari reduces SF-23 ride height for medium-high rear downforce at Interlagos

Scuderia Ferrari is preparing for the Brazilian Grand Prix with several realizations. The SF-23 remains a peculiar car to understand. Almost always excellent in qualifying, quite weak in races for various reasons. These “endemic” aspects, despite engineers’ efforts to conceal them, consistently surface. The year 2024 is fast approaching, an era in which the Prancing Horse eagerly desires to break away from the recent past and set a clear goal: winning once again.

The sport is gearing up for the 20th championship race. Interlagos is undoubtedly a unique track. The first stretch features a downhill chicane (S de Senna) where understeer is always lurking around the corner. The subsequent straight, where the rear wing can be opened, leads to turn 4, which is taken at medium-high speed and presents a certain negative banking.

Following this, the car races to turn 5, leading to the second section of the track, the slower part. Here too, many turns have a particular banking that can put a lot of load on the front axle, causing understeer. The last part of the track consists of a left-hand, medium-speed uphill curve, which effectively leads to the high-speed section that carries the wing cars to the finish line.

A high level of aerodynamic load is required to generate the correct grip in corners, especially in Turn 2. Additionally, sensitivity to aerodynamic efficiency remains quite important. This is why teams like Red Bull and Ferrari could gain an advantage. Last year, as often happened, the Maranello car preferred a slightly lighter wing compared to the RB18. The goal was to regain some top speed at the expense of some downforce.

Brazilian GP 2023/Ferrari SF-23: Reduced rear load, high downforce beam wing
Although the current campaign sees the red car with significantly greater efficiency, closer to the values of the RB19, it is highly likely that the engineers will still adopt a medium-high load configuration. This is to avoid the usual problems that arise on the front axle with the high-downforce package. Once again, the front end will be “protected” and will be tested in several turns due to the particular gradients in many corners.

Given the considerations made in the previous paragraphs, the two SF-23s will rely on good top speed, just as was the case in the first section of the Mexican track. In the second sector, where speeds decrease, rear grip becomes more important, and the Maranello car could capitalize on its capabilities. Red Bull in 2022 faced similar problems to today’s Ferrari, which, combined with other factors, resulted in a challenging and complicated weekend.

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One of these headaches concerned the “weakness” of the front end and lower mechanical grip. While some changes to the rear suspension layout have improved things, the RB19 could still struggle with traction. Mercedes might find certain types of corners that can emphasize its strengths, and for McLaren, despite making progress in slow corners, it remains to be seen if they can translate it into performance.

Interlagos has some bumps that could limit the lowering of the car. This is a key point because whoever can produce more aerodynamic efficiency through the floor will certainly have an advantage in terms of performance. Ferrari will attempt to adopt a reduced ride height to use a rear wing with a lower incidence angle and recover load from the floor-diffuser group. A probable beam wing with maximum downforce to maximize the extractor’s capabilities.

In terms of suspension, moderately softer elements will be adopted to facilitate load transfer and increase mechanical grip. Good front grip must also be ensured, naturally, to avoid understeer, especially in the faster corners of the track. Therefore, we are talking about a mechanical balance shifted more towards the rear but not too much, so as not to “take away” grip from the front axle. Red Bull and McLaren will have more difficulties considering their front-end stability, which makes the aforementioned mechanical balance shift challenging.