Ferrari "understanding" SF-23: Enrico Cardile plans the short-term operational strategy

Scuderia Ferrari doesn’t have very clear ideas on various topics. One of these, crucial in this new regulatory era, concerns the balance between efficiency and aerodynamic load. It is a point of work that struggles to be achieved. An equation that seems difficult to solve. The balance between these two elements, according to the admission of some technicians the Italian website FUnoanalisitecnica is in contact with, is only achieved under certain circumstances often not fully understood.

The “picture” of the situation is not at all pleasant. Within the frame on the canvas, a blurry image is lazily displayed, where details are sometimes invisible and therefore not “perceivable.” This is, no more and no less, the current status of the Prancing Horse within the 2023 Formula One racing campaign. A limiting condition on all fronts. The management knows it well. This notwithstanding, at Spa-Francorchamps, in all likelihood, the red team put together the best performance of the season, especially considering the race performance.

Ferrari SF-23: the comprehensive process is challenging but advancing
In the path that unwinds through the Ardennes forests, tire wear was present for everyone. To say otherwise would be untrue. It was certainly not as high as in other cases, but it still existed, considering the rather uncertain weather conditions. For this reason, it is worth noting that the SF-23, in this specific aspect, demonstrated a more factual management of the Pirelli tires compared to the recent past. It achieved this by using a setup with lower downforce to better exploit the high-speed sections, T1 and T3.

And here we can connect to the previous reasoning. In fact, Ferrari’s expectations were quite different. The dynamic department in Maranello expected a much more complicated tire degradation management, especially considering the aforementioned setup. However, that was not the case, and to this day, understanding why remains difficult for the minds in the Ferrari Racing Division. This situation, of course, does not help. Clarifying this point would create a precedent that could be helpful in future tire management. They are working on it, though, as far as we know.

Project 675 came to light with a lower level of vertical downforce than estimated. This fact is evident not only to the most discerning observers. Various measures to solve this “headache” have not always worked, though. Among various updates to the car’s bottom, only one seems to have brought concrete advantages. We are talking about that “spendable downforce” that doesn’t require using an angle of the wings that generates vertical downforce but at the expense of efficiency.

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Analyzing the on-board footage with extreme attention, we have observed a positive element within the described scenario. When the SF-23 is in the right condition, it manages to use its best weapons, accessing the unfortunately limited operating window it possesses. In this context, the car’s balance is really good, allowing the drivers to push and feel “comfortable” with their single-seater. The result? Excellent performance in the flying lap, combined with good tire management related to consumption.

Ferrari: Charles Leclerc’s competitive step
The observation of the previous paragraph is corroborated by Charles’ performance during the twelfth championship event. In the Sprint Shootout, the Monegasque driver had the potential for pole position, but a mistake in turn 9 shattered his hopes. A gap from the top (Max Verstappen) of 0.195 seconds. Considering that the aforementioned mistake cost him about 3/4 of a tenth, our driver had all the qualities for starting from the pole position. While Carlos Sainz, without making any particular mistakes in a lap that was not perfect, was only 0.025 seconds behind RB19 number 1.

In the race, we know perfectly well how it went for Carlos. The focus on the red cars perfectly explains what happened and why. While the Spanish driver had to leave the battlefield early, Charles Leclerc managed to make the most of the car. This tells us that Ferrari performs ideally when the track doesn’t force the engineers to load the SF-23 too much. In other words, when vertical downforce is not the central element of the weekend, the suitable lap times in all conditions are more easily achievable. This is if the simulation data produce a correct aero-mechanical balance, which is understood.

A very important aspect on which Italian aerodynamicist Enrico Cardile, busy leading the technical department in the present and the near future, has decided to invest the team’s time and money. We mentioned it yesterday: the work program includes an additional package of updates to enhance the car’s positive characteristics, without compromising this balance, and aiming to add downforce to the car through even more careful flow management. The task won’t be easy. Time is limited, the new car is in an advanced state of design, and, as if that wasn’t enough, the cost cap imposed by the FIA doesn’t help.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning a circumstance that effectively confirms Charles Leclerc’s presence at Ferrari in the coming years, through the long-awaited renewal that the Monegasque driver has reportedly already signed. Charles has taken a clear evolutionary step in terms of handling. Moreover, as he himself mentioned in the days leading up to the Belgian Grand Prix, he has strengthened his car management skills in changing weather conditions. In such a scenario, the approach to driving adds considerable value to his performance.

He succeeded thanks to his great sensitivity at the wheel, which adds to the technical direction in setting up the SF-23, which undoubtedly suits his characteristics better. An approach devised and shared with the team to maximize the talents of the Monegasque driver, which once again underscores the Scuderia’s extreme attention to Charles Leclerc’s future, putting to rest any doubts that the marriage between Charles and Ferrari was in crisis.