Jeddah corner speed analysis: Ferrari good in slow corners, SF-24 suffers in terms of top speed

In the second free practice session for the 2024 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari showcased an SF-24 single-seater with a different rear downforce configuration compared to its rivals. This measure was taken to better understand the performance of the red car, which, as we have observed, does not have an efficiency level sufficient to reach optimal top speeds with greater downforce. However, we are talking about a distinctive feature that other cars don’t possess, not even the Red Bull RB20, which has chosen an aerodynamic configuration at the rear with less downforce.

For this reason, as hinted by the team principal of the Italian side, Frederic Vasseur, in the second free practice session, the Maranello team decided to take to track with a rear wing that provided less vertical lift. It remains to be seen how the rear of the Italian car will react, which, in some phases, did not seem perfect at the Jeddah circuit. Drivers and engineers will have to find the right compromise to optimize top speeds and simultaneously maintain a good level of downforce.

Saudi Arabia GP 2024/Slow corner analysis FP2: Ferrari good in the slow corners. SF-24 suffers in terms of top speed.

Shifting the focus to the data related to average speeds in corners, it can be seen that in slow corners, Ferrari, McLaren, Alonso, Hamilton, and Tsunoda are the best, with an average around 100 km/h. The red car, with Carlos Sainz certainly not in top condition due to some health issues which eventually forced him to miss out on the rest of the Jeddah weekend, still shows good mechanical grip through its vehicle. In fact, the Spaniard, in the fast lap, had a Soft tire that had already completed 8 laps.

In corners at intermediate speeds, Charles Leclerc was the best with the rest of the top drivers showing a speed around 175 km/h. Some difficulties for Lewis Hamilton, who throughout all the tests demonstrated not to find the right feeling with his W15. The lack of confidence in the car forced the seven-time champion to navigate these curves more slowly, losing ground compared to competitors.

Saudi Arabia GP 2024/Top speed analysis: Red Bull and Aston Martin better with DRS open.

Finally, let’s analyze the top speed at the end of two straights with DRS and in corner 13, where, without the opening of the movable wing, we can gain some insights regarding the efficiency of the single-seaters. At the end of the main straight, the Red Bull and Aston Martin-powered cars achieve better top speeds. Ferrari, with more rear downforce, obviously sacrifices something in terms of speed. Hence the decision to change something, probably installing on the SF-24 the rear wing version tested in the first official shake-down of the season at Fiorano, just before the presentation of the single-seater.

In corner 27, values very similar to those just described are noticeable, with Ferrari approaching Red Bull and Aston Martin in comparisons. It records the best top speeds in this specific section. McLaren seems to be struggling, revealing a less efficient DRS compared to the competition and suffering in many high-speed sections at the end of the straight. Finally, looking at the last part of the top speed data, we notice that in terms of drag, Mercedes seems to have the least amount of drag in the lot.

This is also thanks to a significantly lighter rear wing that the team decided to test in Saudi Arabia and, it seems, has produced some instability on the rear of the W15. Lewis Hamilton, in this instance, reaches a speed about 8 km/h higher than his opponents. However, this benefit will need to be evaluated for the rest of the weekend because the representatives of the German team have raised several criticisms about the rear of the gray and black car.