Ferrari wins outside of Formula 1. The Maranello team did so last weekend by “defending” last year’s triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. An epic day for the Prancing Horse, which once again proved it has all the credentials to outpace its competitors in any competitive scenario. In the top category of motorsport, things are not going badly at all. The SF-24 single-seater is a competitive car that currently, like the McLaren MCL38, has shown it can compete with Red Bull. However, the Milton Keynes team remains the benchmark of the category, and is expected to be the clear favorite in the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix.
The next round of the 2024 Formula 1 calendar will bring the series to the 4.657-kilometre Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. The Montmelò track is a real open-air wind tunnel. A circuit that includes all types of corners in its layout. For this reason, the compromise regarding the car’s setup will be quite complicated, undoubtedly much more so than what was the case in Miami, Imola, Monte Carlo, and Montreal, the last four races of the 2024 Formula 1 championship. Besides Red Bull, McLaren also feels quite prepared for the Spanish Grand Prix. The versatility of the MCL38 is now well-known, as the papaya-colored cars have shown great adaptation to all circuits.
An approach that the Woking team thinks it can exploit very well. A great challenge to definitively understand if they can fight for the entire championship against the Re Bull RB20 car of Max Verstappen, as Sergio Perez seems to be an easy target for now. Mercedes also starts strong. On Thursday, we will see a new floor on the W15 single-seater. A crucial macro component for the wing cars, through which the Brackley technicians want to stabilize the generation of aerodynamic load of the black-trimmed silver arrows. Ferrari is missing from the call. The Maranello team is seriously intent on erasing the weekend spent on Notre Dame Island, clarifying one thing: the Canadian Gran Prix was an isolated case.
As mentioned, Mercedes will update the car. Red Bull should also do so. This was announced directly by the sprightly old man Helmut Marko. An upgrade that should maximize the performance of the RB20 and partly solve some headaches suffered recently. As mentioned, Ferrari wants to confirm itself at the top after the disappointing weekend at the 4.361-kilometre Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal. To do so, updates are expected for the SF-24 car. Innovations that will greatly benefit the Ferrari single-seater, as the competition advances and the Catalan track particularly suits the study of new parts. Validating an upgrade is simpler at the Circuit de Catalunya, theoretically.
We know what Ferrari’s weaknesses are: cornering at medium-low speeds, traction that, although good, is not at the level of Red Bull, and a rear end where some additional load would be very useful. In this last case, having a more stable rear that can follow the solidity of the front end in rapid direction changes wouldn’t be bad at all. Additionally, providing greater vertical thrust would allow, as with the RB20, to “play” with the wing downforce to manage efficiency.
This also ties into another discussion, essentially referring to the relationship between the produced load and the generated resistance. Ferrari’s primary goal is to increase the benefits generated by the airflow passing under the car’s floor. One of the targets of the single-kick keel is to optimize local depression and consequently obtain high-quality fluid structure at various speeds. All this while considering that an F1 car’s floor continuously undergoes variations in ground clearance during different phases of driving.
Managing these phases well means ensuring stable and efficient downforce. In this area, Ferrari has not fared poorly; on the contrary, it can be considered a strength in high-speed and supportive corners. The aerodynamic map of the SF-24 has undergone some changes, considering that the car’s load is a function of roll, pitch, and yaw angles during a lap. If the influence of these factors is reduced with the applied modifications, Ferrari’s performance will consequently improve.
Moreover, as mentioned, the upgrades can offer greater continuity in vertical thrust production during a lap, especially in medium-slow corners. For this reason, the diffuser should also be involved in the upcoming update for the Barcelona weekend. Otherwise, just like Red Bull and Mercedes, other “minor” aerodynamic tweaks can still make a difference. Now in the third year of the current Formula 1 regulatory framework, all teams are using similar solutions. Whoever can make them more effective will have the upper hand in this regard.
Source: FUnoanalisitecnica
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