Scuderia Ferrari is moving forward with their plan for the F1 World Championship: Maranello is working hard, focusing on bouncing and updates, in preparation for Austin. The SF-24 lived up to the expectations in Baku, the super-fast Baku street circuit, where the Prancing Horse’s car was the most competitive on the grid. Singapore could present a similar scenario, but only Circuit of the Americas will provide a realistic snapshot of the Ferrari’s performance.
Azerbaijan brought some success for Ferrari, even though the race result left a bitter taste of a missed opportunity. Charles Leclerc dominated from Saturday, and only a collective oversight handed Oscar Piastri the lead in the race. The crash between Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez also hurt Ferrari’s hopes in the Constructors’ Championship. Yet, the current state of affairs is more promising than ever.
The long laps behind Oscar Piastri’s MCL38 highlighted the strength of the SF-24, a car capable of competing with what is now widely considered the best on the grid. In fact, had it not been for that ill-fated and spectacular overtake at the start of the second stint, Ferrari could have created a gap just like it did in the first half of the race.
Singapore is a chance to repeat (and improve)
Singapore and Baku share many key factors from an engineering perspective. Both circuits emphasize traction out of corners and lack those sections typical of traditional circuits, where wide, fast turns are alternated with more or less rapid direction changes. In short, bouncing won’t be an issue either in Azerbaijan or at Marina Bay.
The SF-24 single-seater has already demonstrated its competitiveness on street circuits, just as its predecessor did last season. There’s also the undeniable talent of Charles Leclerc, who feels right at home between the city walls. His win in Monaco and the near-miss in Baku show that Ferrari can aim high in Singapore and, later on, on the streets of Las Vegas.
In 2023, it was Carlos Sainz who surprised everyone by winning during Red Bull’s darkest weekend of the year. This year, the RB20 could face similar difficulties as it did in Baku, but caution is warranted: if Red Bull solves the “setup issue” that supposedly slowed Max Verstappen, the podium could once again be within Milton Keynes’ reach. Mercedes, however, faces slimmer chances.
Bouncing and updates: focus on Austin
Regarding bouncing, we have no choice but to trust the statements of those involved: Ferrari, before the Azerbaijan weekend, had clearly emphasized that the bouncing issue had been definitively understood. With the correlation between the simulator and the track restored, it becomes easier to develop setups that mitigate the bouncing factor.
We’ll have to wait until Austin to see if the issue has been completely and permanently resolved. COTA is one of the quintessential front-limited tracks, with fast corners where stability through the turns will be crucial. Red Bull is also eyeing Austin with high hopes, as they aim to get back into the Constructors’ Championship race on circuits like the U.S., Qatar, and Interlagos.
As for updates, as we previously mentioned, a significant package should arrive in the U.S. A new front wing will debut at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, which will ensure better interaction with the new SF-24 floor. Once FIA approval is obtained, this new wing could follow McLaren’s path and feature flexing at high speeds.
Source: f1ingenerale
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