The two main drivers of Ferrari have completed two and a half GPs with the SF-23 on the Barcelona track in tests organized by Pirelli to develop next year’s tires. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz took turns driving the 2023 car, while their teammate was focused on the F1-75, which did not participate in prototype tire development but underwent an effective training session for the upcoming 2024 Formula One season.
Pirelli also concluded the second day of tests in Barcelona to evaluate prototype slick tires for 2025. Ferrari provided the SF-23, alternating between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The Prancing Horse’s main drivers completed the planned work program, where Bicocca’s technicians deliberated solutions regarding both tire constructions and compounds, with the clear intention of reducing tire overheating during a race stint.
The Scuderia offered to continue testing with a car that, at the start of each day, is configured and then left untouched, allowing Pirelli engineers to make comparisons between different solutions while maintaining the car’s setup as a constant.
Today’s session took place in low temperatures (with a peak of 15 degrees Celsius on the track at the warmest moment, while the air was slightly lower). Charles Leclerc set the best performance with the SF-23, clocking in at 1’15″068. The Monegasque driver completed 72 laps, while the Spanish driver put together 90 laps with a best time of 1’15″802 before switching to the F1-75. The Maranello team brought a second red car to Montmelo to intensify the drivers’ training plan.
The 2022 Ferrari was 1.152 seconds slower than the latest SF-23, mainly due to not using prototype tires and only utilizing demo tires, unrelated to Grand Prix coverings.
Charles Leclerc posted a time of 1’16″954 with the SF-75. The Monegasque driver, who has signed a long-term contract with the Prancing Horse, seemed highly motivated, while the Spaniard aims for a two-year contract renewal before the Bahrain Grand Prix; otherwise, he may explore other options.
Ferrari performed well, optimizing resources, allowing technicians to gather crucial data for analysis. The insights will be carefully evaluated to determine if Enrico Cardile’s team understood how to optimize the potential of the red car to address tire wear, a significant challenge for the SF-23 in 2023.
Pirelli will compile a report on the first 2024 test session, sharing the collected data with all teams to avoid favoritism. While the other nine teams will receive numerical indications as feedback, Ferrari will benefit from the drivers’ opinions on the performance of the red cars and tires on the demanding Barcelona track.
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