Following Carlos Sainz’s extraordinary victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari will introduce a new floor specification this weekend in Japan, representing the final significant upgrade of the season on the SF-23 single-seater. Besides benefiting the current car, the new floor is also designed with an eye on 2024 when the Maranello team will start with a clean slate to try and close the gap with Red Bull seen this year.
Ferrari introduces a new floor specification in Japan with an eye on 2024
The rumor comes from Formu1a.uno, stating that the Maranello-based team has had the new floor in the works for some time, and it will be mounted on the SF-23 this weekend at Suzuka.
Barring any major surprises, this should be the last significant update introduced by the engineers on this car, which has proven to be a significantly more competitive single-seater than the disappointing start of the season.
The Fiorano tests two weeks ago also helped the engineers understand what went wrong at Zandvoort, a high-downforce track where Ferrari struggled compared to direct rivals. The story was markedly different at Marina Bay.
Although Singapore is also a high-downforce circuit, the SF-23 performed excellently on the streets under the spotlights, clinching an extraordinary first place with Carlos Sainz. However, despite the victory, the folks in Maranello are keeping their feet firmly on the ground.
Red Bull’s sporting debacle in Singapore has been labeled as an anomaly. Therefore, unless there are unforeseen circumstances, the RB19 will likely return to the front at Suzuka. Max Verstappen himself didn’t seem too concerned in front of the cameras, aware of his strength despite the misstep.
Nevertheless, with a car that finally seems to be working well and the new floor specification set to debut shortly, the red team can realistically aim for the podium, returning to the role of Red Bull’s main pursuer.
Source: f1ingenerale
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