The Ferrari SF-23 came close to victory in Las Vegas. Despite several technical factors hindering its success, the Maranello team was on the brink, with the fortune favoring Milton Keynes, leveraging it effectively. Apart from the somewhat unfair penalty towards Sainz, negatively impacting the achievement of the goal given the competitiveness of the red car, the U.S. weekend can be viewed with satisfaction.
No sooner had one thought about it, and the final showdown of the 2023 racing campaign is upon us. Abu Dhabi features a circuit with various distinct zones. While the third sector includes several curves at medium and low speeds, the central stretch boasts two straight sections that emphasize the importance of aerodynamic efficiency, a focal point for this weekend.
Cars with lower drag levels can gain an advantage by loading the wings more, without sacrificing too much top speed in the lengthy high-speed sections. This primarily applies to Red Bull but also to Ferrari. The Maranello team is expected to equip a specific medium aerodynamic incidence rear-end, coupled with a more loaded beam wing. A compromise “hybrid” setup, in practice.
During FP1, the gradual increase in asphalt grip will progressively assist the Italian team in opting for a lighter specification. In contrast, Red Bull will seek more downforce to find traction when exiting curves at medium speeds. In general, for instance, turn 9, which is taken at medium-high speed, the two RB19s will adapt most effectively. With no actual fast corners in a loaded condition, except for the one just mentioned, Ferrari should not face a fundamentally limiting technical condition.
Regarding the asphalt at Yas Marina, it can be said that the surface is almost smooth, with no bumps that could adversely affect the lowering of the underfloor. Therefore, focusing on efficiency through ground clearances will be crucial, aiming to extract significant “clean vertical” downforce from the diffuser group. Another factor that should aid the historic Modena-based team.
Abu Dhabi GP 2023: Ferrari SF-23 Addresses Understeer. Significant Efforts to Stabilize the Red Car.
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From a mechanical standpoint, the balance will once again be shifted towards the rear, generating the necessary traction when exiting slow corners. While the entry, similar to Las Vegas, will not be very demanding, another aspect that should favor Ferrari in mitigating understeer, a factor that plagued the F1-75 last year due to an excessively front-end-focused setup. The issue was addressed by slightly advancing the center of pressure, in other words, increasing the incidence of the front flaps.
On tracks like the one in Abu Dhabi, where substantial longitudinal grip is required, the SF-23 has consistently demonstrated good competitiveness. Changes to the layout in recent years have made certain areas faster, transforming the track into a more “stop and go” layout. Red Bull and Mercedes will also try to shift the balance as much as possible towards the rear to generate traction during acceleration.
Considering this, it’s worth noting how, in 2022, some teams, including the one from Brackley, faced several headaches. This was because, despite shifting the setup towards the rear, the German car continued to exhibit a front-end-focused configuration. The experience gained through data collection will undoubtedly be immensely helpful in avoiding a similar competitive scenario. The same applies to Red Bull.
Overall, outlining a hypothetical track approach on the shores of the Persian Gulf, Ferrari will focus heavily on optimizing high-speed sections to ensure good End of Straight Speed (EOSS). This is not to mention the mechanical work to enhance the excellent traction that the red car possesses, especially in the third sector. Therefore, a significant emphasis on the stability of the single-seater, keeping in mind that avoiding the problems experienced 12 months ago remains the primary objective.
Source: Alessandro Arcari and Niccolò Arnerich for FUnoanalisitecnica
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