Ferrari to maximize top speeds and build lap time in first and third sectors at Spa | 2024 Belgian GP. Belgian GP: Ferrari updates the SF-24 to increase top speeds.

Scuderia Ferrari is trying to recover from a difficult moment in Formula 1. The Maranello team has fallen into a harmful technical bottleneck from which they can’t seem to escape. It all started with the aerodynamic upgrade package introduced at the Circuit de Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, where the eagerly anticipated updates did not deliver the expected advantage in terms of performance. On the contrary, the updates triggered bouncing and further narrowed the setup window of the SF-24 single-seater. Now the many problems of the Ferrari SF-24 car are being slowly and progressively addressed by the technicians in Maranello. This is a step back coinciding with the exceptional step forward taken by McLaren since May.

As anticipated in our usual preview dedicated to Ferrari, the Italian side is facing a very complicated challenge ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. This is considering the difficulties the SF-24 has shown in cutting through the air. The level of aerodynamic efficiency of the Italian car is good but certainly not up to the top competitors, especially the McLaren MCL38 and the Red Bull RB20. This is why the aerodynamicists are often forced to “endure” compromises in order to reduce the drag of the Ferrari. This, in turn, complicates the generation of downforce because the floor is not able to provide the necessary amount of vertical thrust.

A major problem since, especially on certain layouts where making aero-mechanical compromises is more difficult, Ferrari exposes its weaknesses. All this considering that there is a certain chaos within the factory. The comings and goings of technicians in the middle of the season certainly do not help. The morale of the Maranello team is not at its highest right now, as we could see last weekend in the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Budapest circuit. The same goes for this morning in Belgium. Nevertheless, there are some new developments for the team. We are talking about track adaptations to maximize performance at the 7.004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

F1, Belgian GP: Ferrari updates the SF-24 to increase top speeds

Ferrari present itself in Belgium with a new medium-low aerodynamic load wing configuration. A new specification that represents the lowest downforce version currently available to the Italian team. Therefore, the medium-load version introduced for the first time at the Imola circuit will not be finalized. The new specification features a mainplane with an overall smaller wing surface. The concept is similar to the previously seen medium-load version: the main profile geometry is similar but less loaded.

The greater incidence is found in the central part of the profile, while at its ends it is minimized to limit the drag induced by downforce as much as possible. The second flap is also similar but with a lower incidence. Additionally, there is a local reduction in the chord in the central area to further increase top speeds. Ferrari’s goal is very clear: to maximize top speeds, building the lap in the first and third sectors. An aggressive choice by the team that decides to significantly reduce the SF-24 car’s drag.

This context will inevitably penalize the more technical areas of the second sector, where the Maranello team will somehow have to minimize the losses. The task, however, will be very difficult because the vertical thrust necessary to provide the correct speeds in the second sector must still be found. For this reason, the suspension components will be stiffened once again, penalizing mechanical grip at low speeds. By trying not to stiffen the suspensions too much, Ferrari will attempt to lower the car to favor the production of load through the floor.

As we know, this factor brings further problems, as there is a high risk of triggering bouncing, which can be very harmful. A setup that is expected to be quite complicated because such a significant change at the rear must be counterbalanced by also reducing the load at the front. Therefore, the front wing has also been updated to decrease downforce and restore balance. A completely new package that will have to be validated and made to work with the rest of the updates that did not provide the expected results.

Source: FUnoanalisitecnica