Ferrari’s Technical Director, Enrico Cardile, has revealed that the team decided to make significant changes to their 2024 Formula 1 car due to reaching a development limit in the previous season. After experiencing success with the inwash ‘bathtub’ sidepods in 2022, Ferrari encountered difficulties with the unpredictable SF-23 challenger in the following season. They eventually switched to the popular downwash solution but were still hindered by the limitations of their launch-spec chassis. As a result, Ferrari has committed to a complete revamp of their upcoming car to provide a more stable base for their drivers.
Cardile explained that the decision to revise the design for 2024 was driven by the need to improve aerodynamic development and optimize flow management. The previous car had reached its limits, and unlocking better performance relied on rethinking the architecture and floor behavior. He also noted that many teams on the grid will likely be making similar changes this year.
Concerns over porpoising led to rule changes for the 2023 season, which included raising the cars’ floors by 15 millimeters and the underfloor diffuser throat by 10mm. However, Cardile clarified that Ferrari’s performance decline under these regulations was not solely due to the rule change but rather their struggle to extract significant performance from their previous concept.
To begin with, the car concept for 2022 showed promise, but ultimately fell short in terms of its potential compared to the new concepts. The performance peak achievable with the other concept surpassed what could be achieved with the 2022 car. Despite this, the 2022 car still delivered good performance and stability, especially when additional downforce was added.
Charles Leclerc expressed his satisfaction with the SF-24’s behavior on the simulator, noting that it was a definite improvement compared to its unpredictable predecessor. Ferrari’s strong performance on Sprint weekends last year, which had limited practice time, further validated the accuracy of their virtual tools.
According to Cardile, the simulator plays a crucial role in the overall simulation environment. It is essential to have a high-quality simulator, as well as accurate modeling of the car and its physics. Last year, their proficiency in utilizing the simulator translated to robust on-track performance, particularly in preparation for Sprint races.
As for the impression of this year’s car, the simulations have been positive, showing progress. However, in this industry, such feedback is relevant but not overly significant, as it does not provide a clear comparison to other teams. Therefore, Ferrari eagerly anticipates the start of the season to assess the true competitiveness of their car, as they currently lack this data.
According to the Source motorsportweek.com