The party is over. Ferrari did a lot because it was right like this. Winning in F1, at your home, always has that special flavor. A taste I’ve never tried before Charles which arrived with extreme merit. After the race, the celebrations complete with swimming in the marina and the canonical interviews of the case, Charles he got on his bike, went home, a little Relax with mum and then the big party with team who, for the occasion, instead of leaving for Maranellochose to stop in Principality to give vent to great joy. A triumph that needed to be celebrated at all costs.
On Monday morning it wasn’t easy to return to the factory fresh as a rose. Ferrari he did it anyway, extending the celebration and thanks also to the hundreds of people who every day, 365 times a year, get up and go to factory to continue to nourish the dream. The longing to return to the roof of the world, because the prancing Horse he really broke the balls to appear in F1. To be applauded for your efforts, but all the while constantly listening to the Dutch anthem combined with the Austrian anthem. Mameli he has already played twice in 202. Good, but still not enough.
In this last week, much good work has been done on the wave of enthusiasm. Here comes the Canada, a particular track where the redhead thinks and wants to give everything. The North American route is one of those stages that evokes wonderful memories for Ferrari and the duty to arrive as prepared as possible looms large. Vasseur recently spoke about the choice in terms of setting that was made this year: optimize the race, because the points needed to move up in the standings are earned on Sunday. In the 2023 many pole and then bad figures during the race, where the opponents stripped the paint SF-23 without too many problems.
On this basis the project 676 . First of all, the desire to change the tone on the topic of tyres. In short, learn to use them without having to go 300 km and whistle to complete a Grand Prix worry about the compounds. For this reason, on a technical level, the SF-24 was born to administer well compound. An endemic gift conferred by the department dedicated to the dynamics of the vehicle in operation. At the same time, the desire to maximize performance in the race, reducing some performance from qualifying. But Ferrari she has now realized that she is very close to Red Bull.
Let’s talk about a gap general in the order of a tenth and a half. The same Fred he mentioned it. And then in these cases even the classification session takes on a crucial aspect, as every small detail makes a huge difference if your goal is to win. Ferrari has therefore decided to change its approach to weekend of competition. He will do it starting from the exams with the driver-in-the-loop software. The version EVO from the SF-24 shows a larger tuning window which, in theory, can guarantee a setup equally competitive during the race optimizing Saturday.
F1, Ferrari studies an optimal compromise setup for the SF-24 EVO
The characteristics of the cars F1 all red are now known, above 8° round world champions. The front is very solid, the best of the lot. Front end on which the Italian car builds the lap. There SF-24 he enters corners like a cannon, gains a lot on his opponents and on several occasions shows better top speed. The “suffering” arrives at this point and continues in the exit phase, where the traction is good but not as exceptional as that Red Bull. To overcome this problem, the hybrid system is lending a hand. Using a good portion of the 160 hp recovered from the motor generators during acceleration helps.
It made excellent traction phases a Monk, a track where the lack of consistent lines allowed this approach. On the contrary, where the sections at high travel speeds are kilometers long, there would be no energy to reach and maintain one top speed high. So the problem remains and must be solved by maximizing power delivery. Aerodynamic efficiency helps in this case, another distinctive feature where the red does not reach the sensational value of the Red Bull. With the SF-24 EVO the resistance to advancement seems to have decreased.
However, we await a more probative test to precisely understand the red’s ability to cut through the air. As far as the distance is concerned, we can define it as decidedly competitive in this case too Ferrari. In medium-fast bends and in support SF-24 unsheath performance optimal, because the thrust generated by the ground effect works great. While in the more guided sections of the track there is a slight lack of grip, as the Italian single-seater does not excel in external load transfers. Cornering phases between low and high speed which still need to be optimized.
On the sidelines of this brief summary let’s return to Canada, examining some interesting points of the track. In the first sector you face a chicane where you brake with the steering wheel angle. A very technical stretch where at the level of handling there SF-24 it should do well. The same goes for the other changes of direction 3 and 4. In T2 there are two other chicanes 6 and 7, 8 and 9, interspersed with short straight stretches, where the performance of the Ferrari should essentially follow that of T1. In fact it is the last part of the route where some difficulties are expected.
The big braking of the 10 leads to the slow hairpin, where traction is crucial, and it is highly necessary to go on gas as soon as possible to unload all the power of the PU without burrs. Portion of the circuit where a low amount of drag will help quite a bit regarding the top speed. The key factor that Ferrari has identified, keeping in mind the northern layout American, it’s about the ability to maximize traction And top speed at the end of T3, sacrificing to a small extent the performance in some areas of the rest of the track. The very fast final chicane shouldn’t be a problem.
We are talking about a trait similar to Swimming pools Of Monk to to Gresini Of Imola, where the red one put in an optimal performance. He did this by being able to attack the first curb on entry, and then bring a lot of speed to the center of the corner. Therefore, concluding this brief analysis: traction, efficiency and capacity for use of energy recovery from the power unit 066/12these are the essential elements on which Ferrari has been working in recent days, inside the factory located in Via Abetone Inferiore 4. The goal of Ferrari it is clear: find a compromise structure that can optimize all these technical aspects.
Without forgetting the extra attention that the Italian team will keep on qualifying. In Canada overtaking is not a problem at all, but when the gaps are narrow, in the order of a full tenth, it can certainly become one. Especially if direct opponents like McLaren And Red Bull they have a higher aerodynamic efficiency than yours. Vasseur he has good sensations, the “two Carlos” too. Ferrari will attack. It remains to be seen whether it will be enough, not forgetting that the historic team has now thrown away its mask and the target for every race it’s fighting to get on the top step of the podium.
Author and images: Alessandro Arcari – @berrageiz
Images: Scuderia Ferrari
