Ferrari has a clear plan in mind for the eleventh round of the 2023 racing campaign. Or at least, that seems to be the case in Maranello. The SF-23 single-seater, despite showing evident weaknesses, also has some strengths. It excels in high maneuverability in slow corners, where it can carry a lot of speed at the apex compared to its rivals. Moreover, its mechanical traction is excellent, providing the red car with impressive longitudinal acceleration.
Maximizing these characteristics could mean aiming for pole position on Saturday at the Hungaroring circuit. It’s possible. After all, the Prancing Horse has always shown great competitiveness on single-lap pace, even on tracks that weren’t exactly suited to the car’s strengths. However, to achieve this feat, there’s a crucial factor that needs to be addressed.
As discussed in yesterday’s preview of the Hungarian Grand Prix, we know that the front end of ground-effect cars is vital in generating downforce. The interaction between the front wing and suspension makes a difference in terms of usable ride heights and more. Properly configuring these elements optimizes the management of airflow directed towards the rear.
Considering the issues faced by the F1-75 during the previous Formula One season, the negative feedback from 2022 has led the Italian engineers to change their approach in preparation for this weekend. They will, therefore, adopt a different model for the front suspension system, aiming to provide the SF-23 with the right rotation to fully exploit the acceleration phases coming out of corners. With the support of the drivers, they will seek to maximize the mechanical setup to showcase the car’s best version, as explained by F1 expert Alessandro Arcari for FUnoanalisitecnica.
Hungarian GP 2023, Ferrari: Several challengers for the SF-23
Fred Vasseur states the obvious. What we have all seen. Ferrari performs excellently in the guided zones of a circuit, slow corners, and ninety-degree turns. However, we can’t say the same for fast curves, where some lingering problems are still present. For this reason, according to the French team principal, hoping for a pole position is not merely a whimsical idea, clearly, that’s depending on Red Bull. It would be foolish to exclude Mercedes from the list of contenders.
Right here in Budapest, during the 2022 championship, George Russell was the fastest of all in Q3. The British driver unleashed his talent with the W13, which, thanks to the excellent setup by the Brackley technicians, delivered an outstanding performance. George Russell‘s tire management skills, combined with the practicality of the German car in optimizing its qualities, granted him pole position. The latest update on the W14, the front wing, is intended to provide enhanced performance in slow corners, which abound at the Hungaroring.
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Scuderia Ferrari will have to face two direct competitors, not forgetting McLaren and Aston Martin. The team from Woking has achieved a true technical miracle. It was not easy, under the limiting “shadow” of the budget cap, to improve their car, the MCL60, which until a few weeks ago was fighting in the middle of the midfield. The situation is different for the AMR23, a noble decline. After a fantastic start to the championship, the recent package of updates did not yield the desired results. Nevertheless, the “green machine” has every intention of playing its cards in the region of Mogyoród.
Trying to create an imaginary ranking, based on the competitiveness of the cars shown so far, their current form, and inherent characteristics of the cars examined, it is very likely that Ferrari should be able to contend for the front row with both drivers. All of this, of course, will depend on the effectiveness of the measures adopted being 100%. There is also a theme that should not be underestimated, worth noting as a side note: in Q1, the traffic in “rush hour Beijing” style will make the session even more challenging.
Ferrari SF-23: Searching for the first win of the 2023 Formula One season
A single race victory doesn’t make a huge difference in the overall tally of a Formula One championship. This statement holds true. But somewhere, you have to start: this is the Ferrari’s thinking, as secretly reported by the FUnoanalisitecnica sources, pointing significantly to Hungary as a clear opportunity for redemption. Putting a red car ahead of everyone not only in qualifying but also on Sunday.
The endeavor is of great importance, but according to indications from the sports management, it is not impossible. On the other hand, in Budapest, overtaking is quite challenging when the gap between cars is reduced, and starting from pole position could significantly increase the chances of winning. To achieve this much-desired goal, Ferrari will have to deal with a crucial aspect of the race: the tires, more precisely, their management over the course of the 70 laps to cross the finish line.
Considering that tire management poses a considerable headache in the performance of the SF-23, it is logical that this element will be carefully attended to in every detail. Secondly, we can mention a positive aspect in this regard. It refers to the performances shown by the red car between Canada and Austria, where the different tire compounds used on the Italian cars did not wear out prematurely.
On the contrary, for example, in Montreal, the stint on the Medium tires, which allowed one less pit stop compared to competitors, confirms the good management of the compounds concerning longitudinal stress. Ultimately, a reflection: only a perfect weekend can guarantee a chance of victory. Making mistakes is forbidden, especially in a championship where Ferrari has certainly not been free from errors, unfortunately…
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