F1 Ferrari: Baku and Singapore are two other great opportunities, here's why

09/11/2024 06:25 AM

After a memorable success like the one secured by Charles Leclerc in the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza circuit in front of the Tifosi, it would have been easy for enthusiasm to take over in Maranello.

However, it’s important to remember that in the previous round of the 2024 Formula 1 championship we did not see a dominant Ferrari SF-24 car, nor did it suddenly become the leading force in the championship, but rather a Ferrari car able to compete on equal footing with McLaren.

Still, this doesn't prevent the Maranello technicians and engineers from having some confidence ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit and the Singapore Grans Prix at the Marina Bay street circuit, two events that offer good prospects to see a competitive Ferrari once again.

Heading to Baku

The newfound optimism at Ferrari isn't related just to the updates introduced at the Monza circuit, which will need to be evaluated in October when the calendar features more representative tracks.

The confidence instead comes from the characteristics of the next two events on the Formula One calendar, which will take place on street circuits dominated by 90° corners and low-speed sections, where downforce and aerodynamic drivability are less important than usual. In Azerbaijan, the risk of bouncing, to which Ferrari has been particularly sensitive this summer, also decreases, and its final resolution is yet to be confirmed.

The Baku City Circuit stands out for its straights interspersed with slow corners, making it a stop & go track similar to the Bahrain International Circuit and the GillesVilleneuvecircuit, tracks that, unsurprisingly, share an average qualifying speed of around 215 kilometers per hour. The abundance of 90° low-speed corners shifts the emphasis to braking and, above all, traction, an area in which Ferrari has remained competitive for years. What's absent are medium and high-speed corners, where during the European season, Ferrari showed a slight deficit compared to its direct rivals, especially against the McLaren MCL38 car.

The Azerbaijan circuit also demands a low downforce aerodynamic setup. Ferrari and McLaren can rely on new rear wing and beam-wing packages introduced between the Spa-Francorchamps and Monza rounds, unlike Mercedes and Red Bull, which continue to use modified versions of the Jeddah wings dating back to last March. Finally, Baku often experiences low tire degradation, with the need to especially manage the rear axle. In this respect, McLaren is on par with Ferrari, which, at Monza, prevailed partly due to better graining management on the front axle.

The Monaco of Asia

A week later, it will be time to hit the track again in Singapore, another street circuit dominated by slow corners and traction zones, where Ferrari doesn’t fear the competition. The Asian circuit is the one that most resembles Monte Carlo, a track where the Italian side has won both of the last editions. At the Marina Bay street circuit in Singapore, average lap speeds are significantly lower than in Baku, requiring a maximum downforce configuration. However, the main challenge is the curbs and the track surface, which has far more bumps than the Azerbaijan circuit.

At the end of May on the streets of Monte Carlo, Ferrari emerged as the best car at absorbing bumps and dips at low speeds. McLaren envied the SF-24's adaptability, while Max Verstappen didn't hold back on criticizing his Red Bull. The Dutchman believed that the RB car felt like a go-kart, it bounced a lot and it didn't absorb any curbs, bumps, or elevation changes. However, Ferrari's superiority in this area still needs confirmation, especially considering how teams have updated their suspension mechanics during the summer period. Qualifying will also be crucial for Ferrari's chances of victory in Singapore. With dedicated work, Ferrari was able to secure pole position in Monaco, but overall, the SF-24's single-lap performance remains one of its less convincing areas.

The precedent

The positivity in Maranello does not reflect a Ferrari that has suddenly become the leading force, but rather the awareness of having an aerodynamic package that suits the characteristics of Baku and Singapore. These are tracks where Ferrari doesn't start as the favorite but has all the cards to compete with its rivals, also drawing strength from the excellent interpretation by the team and drivers seen in previous editions. However, the Canadian Grand Prix serves as a reminder that pre-race expectations do not guarantee a positive result. Even in Montreal, Ferrari faced a track that aligned with its qualities, but failure to get the tires up to temperature in the qualifying session compromised the Montreal weekend, which was then definitively sunk by technical problems in the race.

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