The historic Scuderia Ferrari gives itself a great gift on its home turf. A thoroughly deserved pole position built with extreme solidity. We’ve already extensively discussed the aero-mechanical configuration adopted and its impact on the working methodology. It’s undoubtedly a winning setup that has brought the SF-23 to vie for pole position with the dominant Red Bull RB19.
While in Formula One, no points are awarded for qualifying, and the positions obtained only serve to fill the statistical tables, it’s important to emphasize one key aspect apart from the satisfaction of beating Max Verstappen on his home turf: the result achieved is not solely due to adapting to the track. The track layout certainly helped the Prancing Horse, but the rest of the team’s work came very close to excellence.
Italian GP 2023/Telemetry Analysis S1: Ferrari Speeds Down the Straight
At the first braking point of the track, the red car arrives with a speed of 350 km/h, a remarkable 7 points more than Verstappen’s RB19. In this case, we see the advantage of a lighter package, and right after, we can observe the benefits of an aerodynamic configuration that offers undoubtedly superior vertical thrust, in addition to the inherent ability of the Austrian car to generate downforce through its floor.
Red Bull’s mid-corner speed is 4 km/h higher when compared to SF-23 in this section of the Italian circuit. However, in the traction phase, the Modena car keeps pace with the number 1 car.
Moving on to the long, high-speed right-hander, which is taken flat out by all the cars, Mercedes gains some speed. But the issue with the W14 emerges in entry, exit, and acceleration where it loses significantly.
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Italian GP 2023/Telemetry Analysis S2: Slight Struggle in Acceleration
As we reach the midpoint of Monza’s track, we enter the central section, where most of the crucial corners are concentrated to achieve an excellent lap time. Except for the second medium-speed chicane, Carlos Sainz‘s Ferrari appears to be the slowest of the three cars in the remaining corners. However, it remains the undisputed queen in terms of top speed once again.
The rear mechanical suspension of the SF-23 seems capable of making the entire car work well, not just the rear. Technical considerations aside, it should be noted that in this section, car number 55 certainly does not excel in acceleration to reach 100% throttle upon corner exit.
Italian GP 2023/Telemetry Analysis S3: Imperfect Parabolica
We conclude the lap with the third sector, where we find the Ascari chicane and then a long straight leading to the iconic Parabolica curve dedicated to the unforgettable Michele Alboreto. The simulator work has paid off. Through telemetry, we can see how the Maranello car is faster than all others in this fast change of direction, shaving off a few fractions of a second from its competitors.
The final corner is also crucial for getting the best momentum towards the finish line. In this case, too, the red car arrives with a slight speed advantage. In terms of minimum speed, there was still work to be done. We notice that Carlos Sainz’s gap line rapidly closed in on Max Verstappen’s in this final turn before crossing the finish line.
Lastly, we analyze the efficiency of the DRS throughout the lap, examining the use of the drag reduction system during the fast Q3 lap. At Monza, where aerodynamic load is relatively low, the effect of the DRS system is not as powerful as on other tracks. Ferrari seems to have a DRS that’s still very useful despite adopting a lower-downforce setup compared to Red Bull.
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, in fact, manage to produce a better speed delta, with the Spaniard gaining 7 km/h and 5 km/h on Max in the two sectors, respectively. Williams’ Alex Albon also has an excellent DRS, confirming a lower aerodynamic load level. In S2, entering the second section where the DRS can be used at a lower speed compared to opponents, the Thai driver gains a remarkable 9 km/h, producing the highest speed delta.
Qualifying DRS Analysis – Italian GP 2023. Source: FUnoanalisitecnica
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