Enrico Cardile, the Technical Director of Ferrari, is confident that the team will maintain its strong performance in Formula 1 qualifying. The team has focused on improving its race performance with the introduction of the SF-24, a completely redesigned car. Ferrari hopes that the new car will provide its drivers with confidence in all conditions, but there are concerns that this pursuit of better race results may come at the expense of qualifying pace.
Cardile explained that the goal is to strike a balance between a competitive car in qualifying and a more user-friendly platform for the race. The drivability of the car is crucial, as it determines how easily the performance can be extracted. While a light car with new tires may perform well on a single lap, it becomes more challenging during the race as the tires wear and the wind conditions change. By improving the drivability of the car, Ferrari aims to enhance its performance in race situations.
In recent years, Ferrari has excelled in qualifying, consistently securing pole positions. However, the team has struggled to convert these strong starting positions into victories, with Red Bull dominating the sport. Despite starting from pole in 12 races in 2022, Ferrari only managed to win four of them. Last season, the team secured seven poles but only had one victory, which came in Singapore with Carlos Sainz. The SF-23, Ferrari’s previous car, proved to be too sensitive and challenging to handle in race conditions, preventing the team from being a serious threat.
Cardile’s primary focus with the new SF-24 is to address these imperfections and create a more balanced platform. However, there is a concern that taming the car’s wild nature may compromise its performance over a single lap. The drivability of the car has been achieved through aerodynamic adjustments, prioritizing certain aspects over others. It remains to be seen whether this new platform will be more competitive in races than in qualifying, as previous Ferrari cars have been.
Overall, Ferrari is optimistic about the potential of the SF-24 and its ability to deliver improved results. However, the true test will come when the team hits the track, and it is too early to determine whether the car will excel in races or qualifying.
According to the Source motorsportweek.com