Ferrari on the track at Fiorano: here are the new FIA splash guards

Today Maranello woke up with a little more noise than usual. The atmosphere is enlivened by the Prancing Horse’s Formula 1 Power Unit, mounted on the F1-75 and the SF-24 which took to the track on the home circuit. Development work is being carried out in Fiorano in collaboration with the FIA; in fact, Ferrari is bringing a second version of the splash guards on the track which should facilitate the Grand Prix in extreme rain conditions. At the wheel of the single-seaters are Oliver Bearman, who will also have the opportunity to stretch his bones while waiting of the first hour of free practice that he will race in Imola on the Haasone of the development drivers of the Scuderia di Maranello, namely Arthur Leclerc, together with one of the Scuderia’s two regular drivers, Carlos Sainz.

After an initial ‘failure’ test, Ferrari tests a new version of the splash guards

Last year It was up to Mercedes to mount the device developed to prevent large quantities of water from rising from the ground on its single-seater. The FIA ​​has been pursuing a solution for some time that could facilitate the holding of sessions heavily affected by bad weather. Intermediate rubber is a product on which Pirelli has worked intensely, with good results in terms of performance and grip. The Full Wet, on the other hand, still doesn’t convince the teams on many aspects. The main problem lies in its main feature, i.e. the expulsion of large quantities of water which limits the drivers’ view of the track, especially with many cars on the track at the same time. There are two solutions thought up: the introduction of a ‘Super Intermediate’ as Mario Isola defined it, or develop devices like these splash guards.

The Silverstone test was not particularly positive, Mercedes took to the track at Silverstone equipped with the first example of splash guards while McLaren carried out a test without this element. Feedback and data were not those expected, but the technical office of Tombazis he didn’t discard the idea, continuing to develop it. Today it is Ferrari who is testing the new prototype, with a program similar to the one done on English soil, but carried out ‘solo’, with two Ferraris. The F1-75 equipped with the new device and the SF-24 – not yet in the ‘2.0’ version which we will see tomorrow – without the splash guards took to the track. The Fiorano track was artificially wetted; a possibility that makes the track suitable for these types of tests.

In addition to the work done for the FIA, this is also an opportunity for the drivers to train. The jewel of the FDA, Ollie Bearman, currently involved in F2, is preparing to face the Imola weekend with the possibility of taking part in the first free practices with Haas. After Jeddah and the Ferrari tests, he immediately had the opportunity to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 with the aim of earning a place for next year. Arthur Leclerc he is instead involved in non-F1 projects and contributes to Ferrari’s work on the simulator. Carlos Sainz instead, while waiting for tomorrow, he will also have the opportunity to do a few last laps on the “base” SF-24, also useful for comparing the data in view of tomorrow.