Ferrari’s Technical Director, Enrico Cardile, has disclosed that the team’s 2024 Formula 1 car, the SF-24, has undergone a complete redesign compared to its problematic predecessor. The Italian manufacturer faced difficulties in the previous season with the SF-23, which proved to be sensitive to wind direction. Despite maintaining the inwash ‘bathtub’ sidepods from their successful 2022 car, Ferrari made a mid-season concept change to adopt Red Bull’s downwash solution. This decision led to a late-season resurgence, resulting in Ferrari securing the only non-Red Bull victory of 2023 in Singapore and narrowly missing out on second place in the standings ahead of Mercedes.
Ferrari’s Team Principal, Frederic Vasseur, confirmed that the team plans to address its main limitations by changing “95 per cent” of the car components. Prior to the launch of the SF-24, Cardile explained the rationale behind Ferrari’s decision to extensively overhaul the design for the upcoming season. He stated that while the team built upon the development direction from the previous year, they aimed to create an entirely new platform. Cardile emphasized that every aspect of the car has been redesigned to accommodate feedback from the drivers and provide them with a more drivable car that allows them to maximize performance.
Regarding power unit development, the regulations enforce a freeze, prohibiting performance enhancements. However, improvements in reliability can still be made at the discretion of the FIA. This becomes crucial as the 2024 season features a record-breaking 24 races. Enrico Gualtieri, Ferrari’s Technical Director Power Unit, highlighted the challenges posed by the extensive race calendar. He explained that the team has reviewed and optimized their engine-related processes to ensure maximum performance. Close collaboration with partners, such as Shell, has allowed for enhanced reliability procedures, including constant monitoring of the power unit’s fluid condition during track sessions.
According to the Source motorsportweek.com