As we reiterated this morning, a lot of work has been done on the Ferrari SF-23 throughout the 2023 Formula 1 season. Many corrections, both big and small, have been made to make sense of the 2023 racing campaign. A World Championship lost in February, which underscores a recurring fact: in the world of motorsport, there are many discussions, perhaps too many, but when the moment of truth arrives, everything falls apart. Unfortunately, this has been the scenario for the past 15 years.
To avoid repeating the recent mistakes from Mattia Binotto‘s tenure, many things have changed, and more changes are taking place. One of the most important changes concerns the approach to updates this year. Unlike the recent past, Cardile and his team have chosen to continue working on the current car. They aim to improve it to understand it better in practice. It’s a sort of ongoing testing of Italian cars to be better prepared for the start of the 2024 season next March.
To put together this operational plan, sacrifices have not been in short supply. The efforts have been made with great dedication and continue to occupy the minds of technicians and engineers for most of the day, even today. Besides the tire issue, which should benefit significantly from the suspension kinematics updates in Project 676, another important issue continues to be treated with great care: aerodynamics.
Brazilian GP/Ferrari SF-23: Medium Downforce to Maximize S1 and S3
Given the assumption that the bodywork changes to the red car haven’t solved the problems, they are still the first step toward a new aerodynamic concept that, at least on paper, should provide more downforce from the floor, coupled with a more factual vortex structure. In the era of budget caps, it wasn’t possible to completely overhaul the car. We are eagerly awaiting the future.
In the meantime, the “two Carlos” are doing their best with the available cars. We are talking about a Ferrari SF-23 that is sometimes even exceptional in qualifying, making it the fastest car overall. Much credit goes to the drivers because, thanks to their skills, they manage to compensate for the car’s shortcomings on a single lap. We are talking about compromise setups that can also work on a single attempt.
Source: FUnoanalisitecnica
The Ferrari drivers “mask” the car’s insufficient downforce with a particular handling that, in the long run during races, is not profitable at all. The same script will play out again in Brazil. Ferrari will try to maximize performance by minimizing weaknesses. For Interlagos, the Maranello team has once again made a different choice regarding the setup, opting for a medium level of aerodynamic load. The clear goal is to improve top speed on the straights.
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The specification we can observe, thanks to the images taken by Spanish journalist Albert Fabrega, reveals the medium load setup, a single-pillar specification. This decision is made because the kinematics that characterize the rear suspension can generate sufficient grip at low speeds. This aspect should make a significant difference, especially in the central sector of the Brazilian track. A medium level of downforce, which, as we know, is what works best on the SF-23. The reason is now well-known: the high-downforce package complicates the front-end setup.
Source: FUnoanalisitecnica
Mercedes and Red Bull, on the other hand, choose high aerodynamic load. In the case of the RB19, this decision will benefit the Austrian cars in cornering and, at the same time, ensure high top speeds thanks to the low inherent drag, one of the main features of the car designed by Adrian Newey. Mercedes, on the other hand, may struggle in terms of top speed, but the benefits in sectors S2 will be significant, especially considering that this is the only circuit where the W13 won the World Championship.
Ferrari will aim to optimize all sections of the track. In the central sector, the balance shifted towards the rear of the SF-23, favoring grip, should significantly affect the outcome. Meanwhile, S1 and S3 will highlight the car’s excellent engine capabilities combined with the good efficiency of the Italian car. That’s why, aside from standard statements, the team is confident of putting together a highly competitive weekend.
Source: Alessandro Arcari and Niccoló Arnerich for FUnoanalisitecnica
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