The cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the Imola circuit has caused inconvenience not only for the spectators but also to the teams themselves. Many of them had planned a package of updates to bring to the track precisely in these days, and now this plan needs to be revised and adjusted. The next event on the calendar is Monte Carlo, a treacherous and unique track given its layout. On the winding streets of the principality, it is difficult to assess the real value of the technical innovations introduced by the teams, given the peculiar setups required.
Despite this, Mercedes has still decided to debut the “B version” of the W14 next Sunday, as they now have the need to test the produced components. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, on the other hand, Scuderia Ferrari has preferred to be cautious and will bring the new rear suspension only to Barcelona. It should also be noted that there were already rumors that the Scuderia Ferrari was not convinced about introducing the innovation at Imola, considering the unfavorable weather. Therefore, at Montmelo, we can expect an SF-23 with a revamped look: in addition to the suspension, there will also be changes to the side pods and the underbody.
Why the decision to postpone?
The first reason for this choice is precisely the fact that Monte Carlo is a challenging circuit. What makes the difference on the streets of the principality is the driver’s ability to extract the maximum from their car. In this case, the feel and confidence have much more relevance than an aerodynamic novelty or perfect balance. Therefore, the drivers prefer to continuously run, which is also why the cars rarely return to the pits during free practice sessions. Thus, trying a new suspension in Monaco could even worsen the situation.
The second reason is that the SF-23 seems to adapt well to the characteristics of the circuit even in its current configuration. In fact, as seen in Baku, the Ferrari performs well in traction, and perhaps in Monaco, it shouldn’t suffer too much from tire degradation, as the asphalt is very smooth. Moreover, it is well known that the DRS effect in the Principality is quite limited, which would facilitate defending against the formidable Red Bull RB19 cars of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez on the straights.
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