According to Motorsport Italy, Scuderia Ferrari used the new rear diffuser only in the first free practice session for the 2022 Australian Grand Prix in order to carry out an experiment, which can be considered a surprise, given the fact that it was not originally planned. The new component was used only on the F1-75 car of Charles Leclerc because there was only one example available.
The Italian media points out that the diffuser was not designed for Australia, but has been tested to collect data and provide valuable information for the Maranello team, who back home is working on the first development package of the 2022 Formula 1 car. According to the original plans, the new floor should have made its appearance in the Spanish GP at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, but now it is not excluded that it may make its debut in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, if the data collected at Albert Park during FP1 are positive and if in Maranello they manage to complete the other pieces in time to bring them to Imola.
In short, this decision was not at all caused by a possible issue with the initial design as, unfortunately, we were used to seeing in the recent past, but more simply an attempt the work carried out on the updates and therefore respond to Red Bull, who is expected to improve in the next rounds of the 2022 Formula 1 season. The more profiled diffuser in the central part of the keel should help improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the red car which, on the other hand, has good downforce. The idea of the technicians headed by Enrico Cardile is to reduce drag to increase top speed at the end of the straights.
Ferrari in Australia proved to be competitive just like in the two previous races: first Carlos Sainz and then Charles Leclerc led the two free practice sessions at the Albert Park Circuit, even if Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, especially in the long run, proved to be able to match the pace of Ferrari, thus promising another close challeng like we saw in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
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On the F1-75, the Ferrari technicians have kept the nolder mounted in the rear part of the mobile flap: an unusual choice that helps with a lower downforce configuration. This change also goes in the wake of Ferrari’s attempt to reduce drag.
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