Ferrari is clearly on the rise in this second part of the 2023 Formula 1 season. The Maranello team’s innovations consistently yield the desired results, and this was also the case with the new floor installed in Japan.
Tire degradation, especially on the hard compound, was on par with McLaren and Red Bull in the last race, albeit at a slower pace. The challenge for the Scuderia at Suzuka was in directional changes, where the SF-23 is still inferior to the two previously mentioned teams due to a constant instability at the rear.
So, which tracks could be challenging for Ferrari in this final part of the 2023 Formula One championship? Considering what has emerged from the SF-23 car’s behavior in high-speed successive corners, unfavorable tracks could be Austin and Mexico (both feature “snake” sections with several consecutive S-bend corners).
Why the SF-23 could be competitive in Qatar
So far, we’ve mentioned that Ferrari struggles in directional changes, but the difficulty is not due to the aerodynamic load generated by the car, but rather the need to navigate multiple corners consecutively.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
The Scuderia performed well in Suzuka’s “spoon” corner, even though it’s taken at medium to high speeds. Since it is an isolated corner, not part of a sequence of corners, the difficulties encountered in successive turns did not manifest in that section of the track.
Qatar is a circuit with several high-speed corners, but no part of the track includes consecutive S-bend corners. Therefore, the SF-23 could adapt well to the upcoming circuit and aim to secure more valuable points against Mercedes in the battle for second place in the 2023 Formula One constructors’ championship.
Leave a Reply