Ferrari, SF-23 S-Duct: FIA receives first request for clarification from rival teams

Scuderia Ferrari revealed the SF-23 challenger last week without hiding too much its new aerodynamic solutions. Mainly the blowing ducts in the sidepods – taking up the S-Duct concept well known on the older generation – seem to be a much more than interesting solution, designed to optimize the flow directed towards the rear of the car, both that which reaches the lower part of the car, and what is sent towards the rear wing and the beam wing.

Certainly the numbers coming out of the tunnel were very positive, considering that the SF-23 had been under aerodynamic study since before the summer. This means it is a rather complex solution for the opponents to replicate since it not only concerns the design of the chassis and internal dimensions, but also the concept of the single-seater itself. There is less need for the other teams to energize the flow in that area as, except in the hottest races of the year, they don’t need to open slits in the central area of the car, due to a much greater rear opening. At the beginning of 2021, the Maranello technicians grounded all the ideas, discarding the zeropods concept as it was considered less effective or in any case more complex in terms of understanding and development. The aerodynamicists continued to push in what turned out to be a single direction, taken up for obvious reasons by Haas, but not by Alfa Romeo/Sauber.

One solution, which can be considered unprecedented for this generation of cars, is that it was already being studied last season when there was an F1-75 on the track which was abandoned in terms of development after the French GP, therefore very early in the season. Ferrari therefore introduced several developments in the second part of the 2022 Formula 1 season that were not produced and used regularly on race weekends. “We will have two or three very interesting solutions on the SF-23, a couple more hidden”, a technician told Formu1a.uno in a conversation they had a few weeks ago.

S-Duct Ferrari: the first request for clarification has arrived at the FIA
According to F1 experts Giuliano Duchessa and Piergiuseppe Donadoni (Formu1a.uno), Ferrari has been informed by the Federation of the first request for clarification received from the governing body of the most important motorsport series. Obviously, in a season there are many requests for clarifications from the teams, a sort of routine for the technical part of the FIA. Ferrari’s integrated solution has clearly not gone unnoticed by its rivals.

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The teams are very interested in the answers from the FIA, not only for the aspects related to the legality aspect, but also to know a few more details (as much as the Federation can tell) that will help them study the particular solution. In last season’s tests, for example, there was talk of having to remain in the spirit of the new regulation and yet contradictory solutions appeared, precisely within that perimeter, which made some technicians express their disapproval. For example the nose cone with the elements mounted on the Mercedes W13 was at the center of discussions – but was then never officially contested. Ferrari is are certain that the solutions adopted on the SF-23 car are fully within the rules.