Ferrari was strongly criticized at Silverstone, and from a purely strategic perspective, it is justified. After all, such errors have been recurring for some time now. However, it is worth discussing this aspect. Although Frederic Vasseur firmly holds the reins at GES, the working group shaped by Mattia Binotto’s mandate, or at least part of it, continues to make its presence felt and cause damage, all too often.
It is not about the intrinsic value of the individuals tasked with various responsibilities, but rather a flawed operational methodology. Stale. Lacking. This aspect has significantly hindered results in the recent past, even when the Italian car was worthy of the top step of the podium, and it continues to do so in the present with a potentially good but certainly incomplete car, the SF-23.
Internal restructuring is no laughing matter. It takes time, but above all, it requires a brilliant mind accustomed to winning to work alongside the French manager. Yes, because although the Frenchman brings undeniable qualities, he clearly shows a technical deficiency. This was known even before he stepped through the doors of Maranello.
That’s why, logically speaking, until the former Alfa Romeo man is assisted by a specific profile, things are unlikely to take off. We’re talking about “Mister X,” in other words. An experienced individual with many years of track experience, capable of shaping the destiny of a team and leading them down the right technical path. In the meantime, there’s Enrico Cardile, a thoughtful, skilled, prepared, and enterprising mind but with limited experience in the playing field.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
The deficient and fragmented scenario, in various aspects, consequently leads to inadequate resource optimization, exactly what happened at Silverstone during the tenth round of the 2023 racing campaign. It was a weekend from which to draw lessons and gain a clear awareness: despite being small and surrounded by the usual problems, a step forward has been taken even in the British Grand Prix.
Ferrari SF-23: Another Technical Piece to Confirm
Traction: the phase of grounding the engine power produced by the power unit. In this regard, Ferrari remains among the best. We have emphasized this through several articles where, supported by telemetry data, it was impossible not to notice this undoubtedly positive characteristic. Consequently, the excellent longitudinal acceleration emerges as a strong point of the SF-23, further supported by substantial propulsive thrust.
The recent revision of the aerodynamic package has given the Italian car new interesting characteristics. The minimization of porpoising, for example, a tedious effect that limits the optimal choice of ride heights regarding downforce generation. Not to mention the most encouraging “novelty”: high-speed cornering.
Despite a less developed setup than Red Bull at the rear, this context has shown significant evolution considering that, until Spain, these particular sections of a circuit were experienced by drivers as a true “nightmare” in which to drown. They were impossible to manage, with lap times greatly limited by the low speeds reached at the apex of the corners, significantly impacting performance.
The confirmation comes in the complex of Becketts where Ferrari, on several occasions, achieved even higher speeds than Red Bull. Despite a certain instability due to an imperfect rear end, we must undoubtedly highlight this promising aspect that struggled to emerge during the race. It is an element that needs to be strengthened and, above all, confirmed in the upcoming races through targeted setup analysis, as explained by F1 expert Alessandro Arcari for FUnoanalisitecnica.
The absence of Charles Leclerc in FP2 has disrupted the tuning work of a car that, as we all know, has a much narrower operating window compared to direct competitors. The inability to conduct comparative tests through Charles’ feedback has limited the choices, as the Monegasque driver’s different driving style would have provided additional information that was not available.
For this simple reason, we await a more accurate assessment in the continuation of the championship, keeping in mind that, as announced to Fred Vasseur himself, the “cleanup” work implemented on the SF-23 is not yet complete. Further updates to validate the new concepts are being defined.
Furthermore, the improper setup did not enhance the recent modification to the diffuser regarding the specific use of the beam wing (directing the flow towards the lower element to generate rear downforce), which, regardless, would have required additional confirmations regarding its effectiveness.
Leave a Reply