From floor to sidepods, how SF-24 will change amid attempt to challenge Red Bull by Imola GP. How SF-24 will change amid attempt to challenge Red Bull by Imola GP.

Formula 1, Ferrari’s plan to close in on Red Bull by the Imola Grand Prix: the foundation of the new car (SF-24) is solid and allows for developments. It needs improvement in low-speed corners.

Red Bull has repeatedly stated that they expected closer competition compared to 2023. “We were surprised by the gap accumulated last year, we also had areas of the car that didn’t fully satisfy us,” was said in the technical office in Milton Keynes. Yet, the gap has not narrowed even at the beginning of the 2024 Formula One season. At best, it has remained stable, at least for those who did a good job of winter development.

Disappointing Mercedes, McLaren lagging behind
It was difficult to expect a role reversal, however, the surprise was also seeing a Mercedes limited by bouncing in fast corners after three seasons. In reality, it seems that many teams in this very early part of the championship have missed their targets and need to recover more than expected. In addition to Mercedes, progress was expected from McLaren and Aston Martin.

Ferrari, a good foundation for progress
Scuderia Ferrari has kept the gap from the end of 2023 fairly stable, recovering 4 tenths compared to one year ago. The good news is that the current car, SF-24, has a very clean foundation: as a result more aggressive solutions will begin to be seen starting with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola (May 17-19). What are we talking about? A more restrained look regarding the volumes of the sidepods and the inlets that will begin to be thinner, recalling the trend launched by the Red Bull RB19 (the 2023 car). A more pronounced excavation that should help reduce drag, i.e., resistance to forward movement. We will also see a new evolution of the floor, even more complex after the positive steps taken with the basic specification, much more refined than the previous ones. In support of this, from the pre-season testing session in Bahrain, we have already seen solid data, partly because the regulations are unchanged and partly because the tires have not changed.

Where Ferrari needs to improve also depends on the wings
The SF-24 single-seater has always been the best in medium to high-speed corners and in support, those around 200 km/h, it is practically the opposite of the 2023 Formula 1 car. Having a lot of downforce is something you can build on. At the same time, it is very clear in which areas improvement will be needed, at low speeds and in the rotations of the tight radius corners. The first feedback indicates that the super aerodynamic efficiency of the SF-23 (which we saw in Las Vegas for example) has been partially maintained, it was difficult not to expect a coefficient more in line with the competition. As always, it will depend a lot on which specific rear wing can be used. In Jeddah there were two options but the most efficient one with DRS open was discarded because it was considered overall too low. The next round will be interesting, because the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne has become a stop-and-go track in recent years, much faster, with sharp corners and others slower ones where speed on exit is rewarded in terms of lap time and performance.