What the hell can you say about Ferrari? In theory, a lot of things. Let’s start with a consideration regarding the qualification. The confirmation came in the qualification valid for the Sunday race. The team modified the set-up of the SF-24. He did it in an attempt to fix the oversteer attitude. Excess rotation that actually complicated the handling in all sectors of the Spielberg track. But the red one didn’t work anyway because when the blanket is short the feet or the head are always uncovered. Aerodynamic efficiency, a distinctive feature on which the Italian car is lacking.
To try to limit this shortage, the technicians of Maranello they unloaded the rear. Doing so means lightening the rear end which consequently suffers quite a bit. The Ferrari drivers pushed to the limit a car that, pushed to the maximum, was not able to guarantee the correct stability of the ride. In the first part of the track that unfolds between the mountains of Stiria the oversteer took control of the car mid-corner. An aspect that delays the acceleration phase and the accumulated gap drags on for the rest of the straight stretch at high speed. Even in T2 the attitude of the SF-24 was similar.
Turn 6 highlighted all of Ferrari’s limitations. Entering this fold was not possible. The “two Carlos” tried anyway and it was precisely because of this that the instability of the ride became apparent at the peak. A rear end unable to follow the front which is also too pointed. The same goes for 7. Generally speaking, the T3 it also remains deficient in the downhill section that leads to the main straight. Handling super complicated because the fixes were evident reducing performance. SF-24 who made good use of the hybrid to close the gap on the leaders.
At the end of the qualification a reflection arises spontaneously. The current knowledge of technicians on the SF-24 updated isn’t that great. The data on the track corresponds to that obtained in the factory. This is why the current inability to handle the package mounted in Spain emerges and the operating window narrows. A big problem, in short. The Italian working group will have to make a further effort in this direction. A bit like what it did Mercedes in the last few weeks, because only the know how definitive on update will provide the right tools to optimize performance.
Ferrari, Austria: overdoing it to limit the technical deficiencies of the SF-24
Il layout Austrian certainly did not go against the Ferrari. The aerodynamic resistance of SF-24 it had to be managed by lowering the downforce. For this reason, the “fault” for a performance that is not up to par must certainly be partly attributed to this element. Balancing excessive drag in any way leads to consequences. In the case of the red car, unloading the rear created the supposed instability which could not be corrected through surgery. We are referring to stiffening the car to increase performance in fast corners. To do so meant losing that little grip mechanic available.
In other words Ferrari he sought a compromise that does not exist, at least on this track with the current knowledge of the medium. Vasseur he knows it or at least he understands it. The small step forward he arrived even though more was expected. He himself made it known in front of the microphones of Formula One. His analysis tries to consider the glass half full. He does so by keeping in mind the gap are Russell and two o’clock McLaren. While on Verstappen not a single word is said. Better this way because the gap is huge on the Dutchman, on a very short track. An aspect that highlights the deficit performance more.
The ever hilarious Fredperhaps a little less recently in recent weeks, also talks about today’s match regarding the expectations of the Ferrari. It does so based on yesterday’s 100km mini-race, which was in fact the tail end of a little train DRS means seeing the operating temperatures of your single-seater rise too high. Both those of the brakes and those inside. Idem for tyres where overheating can create some problems although the asphalt of Spielberg It’s not all that abrasive. We then talk about strategies related to pit stops which clearly during the F1 sprint they didn’t show up.
In conclusion of this writing we return to the words of Leclerc. A phrase of his in the usual post-session interviews explains the matter very well. Because when the performance of your single-seater is lacking, the talented driver tries anything to lower the lap time. He doesn’t accept giving up without trying a sensational move. Sometimes it works, other times it definitely doesn’t. Yesterday for Charles it went badly, as we have seen. “I went banzai in T6“, five little words that explain well how the Monegasque was forced to outperform to get something more from his car.
Author: Zander Arcari – @berrageiz
Images: Scuderia Ferrari – F1Tv
