There was no competition at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, next weekend in Holland we will certainly know if Ferrari is still there in terms of performance and race pace – in comparison with Red Bull – for the final phase of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
Is Ferrari still able to match Red Bull?
“Spa-Francorchamps is a long track that amplifies the problems and strengths, we are not strong enough in managing tire degradation” – Mattia Binotto said after the Belgian Grand Prix.
In fact, on all three Pirelli compounds, the F1-75 did not live up to expectations. Ferrari all in all expected a rather difficult weekend, or in any case a Red Bull faster at Spa, considering the characteristics of the track which in recent times have always rewarded aerodynamic efficiency.
However, it is still difficult to explain – more than the result – the gap seen in terms of pace, especially against Max Verstappen. The Dutchman showed a phenomenal display of driving that left no chance for the rest of the field, even for his teammate. Towards the first third of the race he was already in the podium area, being able to run 8 tenths of a second faster than Perez and 1.5” seconds over the other opponents.
It is clear that with these numbers the race become more or less a walk in the park. The world champion simply needed to get out of Les Combes unscathed on the first lap. After a few races without major successful updates, it seems that the development of the Red Bull technicians has hit the target, that is, to satisfy the driving style of Max Verstappen while caring much less about the needs of the Mexican.
It seems that Max Verstappen in Belgium was able to do in one fell swoop what he couldn’t at the beginning of the season, which is to drive with less front wing without suffering from understeer. In addition, the circuit package – setup – aerodynamic configuration – driver preferences was totally in favour of the characteristics of Red Bull.
Ferrari – on the contrary – was incredibly poor in terms of pace. Too much not to believe that some choices have gone a little off track. Ferrari also tested a very low load wing trying to see if it was a good option, not just for Monza. Would it have been better? Worse? We do not know, as explained by F1 expert Giuliano Duchessa for formu1a.uno. Certainly less exposure to bouncing could have helped to lower the F1-75 car, as well as having something more in terms of speed on the straight, so as to be a little less rigid in traction and out of corners. The data from Friday’s second free practice, however, did not offer such signals as to prefer this option.
In the end, Red Bull and Ferrari opted for the same aerodynamic configuration as at Baku which eliminates a variable in this analysis. In addition, much of the difference in efficiency had been erased at the time. This aspect shows that the problem at Spa arose mainly from the front axle due to the degradation, secondly also from the traction.
The degradation seen may have some answers. One is that the car did not generate enough load at medium-high speeds, yet in qualifying the fastest in Pouhon was Charles Leclerc. The other explanation, more likely, is to be found in the mechanical setup combined with the pressures used. A super rigid set-up not supported by high downforce can result in greater sliding as the car gradually decreases in weight, which usually leads to over-heating the tires with significant acceleration of degradation.
The intermittent pace (alternating just decent laps with other slow laps) shows that the window of use was not perfectly centered, practically at any stage of the race. Carlos Sainz’s at least discreet pace at the start of the race seems to support this hypothesis.
Carlos seriously risked finishing outside the podium
As hoped by the Mercedes engineers, the W13 car survived the disaster (relatively better than Ferrari) thanks to rising temperatures. A similar pace to the Reds in the race, due to a more reasonable degradation shown by George Russell. Only the consistency of the Hard tire saved Carlos Sainz’s podium from the Englishman’s comeback in the last few laps. The W13 will not enter the Mercedes museum, indeed it will remain a mysterious object.
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However, what is certain is that Ferrari did not have a sufficiently adequate package to fight at the top. It can happen at times, after all, the opposite had happened in Melbourne. If it was a coincidence or if they took the wrong route in Maranello we will understand in a few days. Just as we will understand if the RB18 has really made a pure qualitative leap.
“Zandvoort is a totally different track, from higher load, I am confident that we will return to fight for the victory. Monza, on the other hand, is a lower load track but has a different compromise from Spa. We will work to understand how to best use the car and the tires, “explained Mattia Binotto.
If Ferrari is still there in terms of speed, at least to be able to win races, it should already be seen next weekend at the Zandvoort circuit because – unlike Belgium – as seen up to Budapest, it cannot be said that the Dutch track does not adapt to the characteristics of the F1-75 car.
