A disappointing Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari, which in China gathered much less than they expected. A result also due to some strange setup changes made during the weekend to the Ferrari SF-24 single-seater.
In past seasons, the Sprint appointments on the Formula One calendar represented a great opportunity for Ferrari to do well. As confirmation of this, we have as a reference the weekend of Baku 2023, Austria of the same year, and partly also Austin. However, the arrival of the new season and the new single-seaters seems to have reshuffled the cards with a less effective Ferrari in these particular weekends. There still remains an open question regarding some strange setup changes made to the Ferrari SF-24.
The SF-24 car, designed under the expert guidance of Enrico Cardile‘s technical staff, has proven to be the product of a project diametrically opposed to that of 2023. A single-seater that in the first four races has shown to be the second force behind Red Bull and to win in Australia against all odds pre-weekend.
Even in Japan, where the Suzuka circuit could put an end to the rosiest expectations, the two red single-seaters surprised. At the end of the race, the gap from Red Bull was halved compared to 2023, despite the RB20 being equipped with novelties. But in China, the cold shower arrived, with 0 podium finishes achieved in the weekend with double points finishes. A result that triggered an alarm among the fans who were hoping and can’t wait to discover the new SF-24 2.0.
The semi-collapse of the Chinese weekend could have several causes, including track conditions and a format that makes the work done in the simulator fundamental. Observing the SF-24 during the Grand Prix, a constant and slight rear-end sliding could be seen both in qualifying and especially in the race. A phenomenon due to an anomalous modus operandi, with a single-seater that leaned towards ever less aerodynamic load at the 5.451-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit.
This type of intervention occurred with the adjustment, or elimination, of the constituent elements of the beam wing, decreasing the downforce generated. One of the most important elements for managing rear aerodynamic load. Probably the team’s goal is to ensure better top speed on the track, as the weekend evolves, becoming increasingly rubbered-in. A technical choice that, however, did not work, also considering the combination of external factors, such as low temperatures and an extremely indecipherable asphalt.
A multitude of elements that have led the SF-24 towards an incorrect operating window, making the warm-up phase of the tires extremely complex. Experiments in view of the updates for the Imola circuit next month? It is not known, but they could be further tests to understand the car, specifically the aerodynamic downforce generated by the car body alone. We just have to wait for less than 13 days to further verify this method of procedure of Scuderia Ferrari.
Source: f1ingenerale
Leave a Reply