Ferrari updates and development: clear difference in approach between 2022 and 2023

Ferrari 2022 vs. Ferrari 2023. What has changed? Looking at the results on the track, not much. But if we observe certain dynamics, it’s clear how they have been achieved. In the previous season, the F1-75 started with vigor, giving the impression that it could be the means for either Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz to compete and, why not, win the World Championship.

We know how things went. The car suffered from unreliable performance and a development plan intentionally halted to allocate all resources and go all-in for the current year. It’s equally known how the sixteen races held so far unfolded. And this is where the difference is evident. The SF-23, “Ferrari’s fastest car ever,” to quote an unfortunate Benedetto Vigna, had a relatively quiet start but improved over time.

Ferrari: Clear Difference in Approach Between 2022 and 2023
If last year the last victory came in France, before the midway point of the season, this year, the first triumph arrived in the dying phase of the championship after a whopping 15 races. This is neither coincidental nor accidental. It’s a trend that certifies one thing: the car was not “abandoned” to its fate, and the new floor introduced at the Suzuka circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix is irrefutable proof of that.

This fact is the result of a clear policy defined by Frédéric Vasseur, which represents a sharp departure from Mattia Binotto’s decision to halt development at a certain point. Perhaps this move caused Ferrari to stubbornly adhere to a philosophy that proved unrewarding. The 2024 car will have a different concept, as Charles Leclerc affirmed a few weeks ago, but this new design is achieved through evolution, not revolution. That’s why time and attention are still required for the car currently racing in this championship.

From this perspective, the fierce battle with Mercedes, which is expected to be reached and surpassed in the upcoming races given the minimal points gap (20 points, note), is a factor to exploit. And the French manager directly stated this at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix: “We must not postpone the fight. The fight today is with Mercedes, and we must engage in it. It’s always the best way to prepare for the future, for the team’s mindset: it’s crucial for everyone to be in the duel. We want to fight until the end of the season.”

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The same ex-Sauber team leader states the principle: “Performance comes from performing.” He further added: “It’s too late to go to the wind tunnel for this season, but what we can do on the current car can help us in the next year.”

Ferrari: The Policy of Continuity Must Pay Off in the Long Run
The policy of continuity is paying off in the short term, as the gaps with Mercedes continue to narrow. Second place could be a reward for their efforts, adding to the Marina Bay victory, which Maranello would like to replicate from here to the end of the season.

But the true goal of this progression in updates is to create a more solid operational foundation for the 2024 model. Being in direct competition with another team serves to train the ability to react and intervene swiftly in critical areas. More than a technical exercise, the rivalry with Mercedes is helping to develop a competitive attitude that will be invaluable in the coming months.

At least, that’s Fred Vasseur‘s hope, as he doesn’t want to close the year being accused of abandoning the 2023 car. This is also a measure of caution as Maranello necessarily has to play a leading role in the 2024 championship.