The first two rounds of the 2023 Formula One season represented a wake-up call for the Ferrari fans, who certainly – given the premises – did not expect to see Charles Leclerc and Carlos so far behind the top leaders. The imperative now is to run for cover: major updates to the SF-23 should be introduced in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend at the Imola circuit, but they will not be the first evolutions. A small piece will also be introduced in Melbourne on the occasion of the Australian GP, when the Ferrari cars will take to the track with a new floor.
The news was reported by today’s edition of the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, which informs that Scuderia Ferrari is working hard to bring many aerodynamic innovations and a new rear suspension for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The goal? That of “reducing the longitudinal load transfers, which negatively affected the single-seater in the first two races”, writes the sports daily newspaper.
Returning to the first two races, the focus is on Jeddah. During the Saudi Arabian weekend, Scuderia Ferrari had tried a new floor, but only for a few laps. The difference between the new floor and the “non-evolved” one consisted in the side profile.
In the minds of the Maranello technicians, the evolved floor should have reduced the sensitivity of the single-seater to variations in height from the ground. However, it seems that the solution introduced did got receive positive feedback and was postponed at that time. The Jeddah track, with its straights and fast corners, was not the ideal circuit to test the effectiveness of the new floor, as it did not require a large vertical load.
In Melbourne the new opportunity?
The Australian track, reports the Gazzetta dello Sport, is a different circuit from the Saudi Arabian one. The management of ride heights is made fundamental by the asphalt. In addition, the track requires a medium to high level of vertical load.
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This is why the new Ferrari floor, set aside briefly in Jeddah, can once again be tested by the Maranello team at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. The two SF-23 cars of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will come out of the pits in the first free practice session with the floor question.
The Ferrari technicians in the garage will check and evaluate the update to then decide whether to keep it on the single-seaters for the rest of the Australian Grand Prix weekend.
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