A new rear suspension and some aerodynamic modifications are being prepared in Maranello to chase Verstappen. But we need to improve on the Melbourne circuit
March 29, 2023 ( edit March 29, 2023 | 10:57 am)
Everyone back. That doesn’t mean all the way back. It means that Ferrari must withdraw in defence, limit the damage, be strong and keep up with what they have. And wait. “Now we’re going to Australia – sighed Charles Leclerc in Jeddah – then we’ll have three crucial weeks to work”. To come up with some solutions to put on track, in an ideal world right away, in the subsequent Baku and Miami grands prix. Probably, as far as we understand, later: in Imola. Because the necessary improvements take time, because in Azerbaijan and Florida we race on citizens by their nature both atypical in their own way. And therefore, while blessing the hole left in the calendar by the Shanghai Chinese, the gestation of the revised and corrected version of the SF-23 will be longer. The hope gauge in Maranello will therefore return to register values acceptable to the fans in the weeks leading up to the home race. The real championship, one could say simplifying but not too much, will begin at the Emilia-Romagna GP on Sunday 21st May.
Ferrari, new suspension
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The first two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia convinced Fred Vasseur to change his plans. Right from the start he repeated that he had a development plan to introduce at practically every stage of the championship. For the next three GPs, on the other hand, we will go in the same direction, with interventions aimed at the characteristics of the various circuits and nothing more. To have the time and opportunity to prepare the changes for Imola. Starting with the rear suspension. With the imperative that is always the same in this F.1 with ground effect halved by Technical Directive 39: optimizing the height of the car with respect to the asphalt. The SF-23 cannot now run as low as would be necessary to have the envisioned payload. From there, a whole series of compromises that have affected its performance. A new mix of stiffness is therefore needed, to improve the set-up, and softness, to favor grip. Effect only possible with a new suspension.
Red Bull as a model
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In practice, in Maranello they will take inspiration from Red Bull, moving the attachment point of the upper triangle of the suspension to the base of the wing. In other words, the mono-pylon already cleared through customs in Jeddah. Not so obvious instead that even the admired and envied bellies of Red Bull will be copied. It is certain that every change made by the new suspension provision will have to correspond to coherent corrections to favor flows. At the same time, still in Imola, the fund will also be modified. With the intention of finding performance again. To return at least in front of Aston Martin and Mercedes, and to get back in the wake of Red Bull. Reaching it is another thing: even in Milton Keynes, although penalized on the total number of hours in the wind tunnel, they will take advantage of the three weeks without racing and will continue with the updates. But Ferrari, strengthened by the progress of 2023, the speed and the good drag achieved, or rather those qualities that made it competitive in qualifying, plans to return to second strength. With some chance to play when the various situations allow it.
Australian GP: the tyres
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In the meantime, Melbourne will have to try to resist. According to what was seen and suffered in Sakhir and then in Jeddah, the semi-citizen of Albert Park for the SF-23 is certainly not ideal. Balance is needed, tire degradation, a disease now endemic to the red, although not comparable to that of Bahrain, will have to be taken into account. Vasseur, if he has launched so many changes, knows that it’s not just a question of structures. But he counts on working on those elements of excellence that allowed Leclerc to fight for pole on Saturday. Aiming to win, probably, will be difficult. Trying to improve Saudi Arabia’s performance and placings is a must. Then there will be a long break from work and study, then the catwalks of Baku and Miami. And eventually Imola will arrive. Yet another call to the rescue.
March 29, 2023 (change March 29, 2023 | 10:57 am)
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