F1 | Ferrari: SF-24 ability to save tires not designed just for Monza
09/04/2024 03:32 AM
Ferrari was masterful at Monza: Charles Leclerc secured the Scuderia’s 20th victory at the Temple of Speed. This win is particularly special because the Maranello team, driven by a record crowd at the Monza circuit (335,000 spectators over the weekend), showcased some characteristics of the team, the driver, and the car that could help the Cavallino exit a phase of the season that has been somewhat of a rollercoaster.
Leclerc returned to the top step of the podium to a shower of cheers, five years after his 2019 victory. The win with the SF-24 feels completely different. Ferrari didn’t have to rely on the “big engine” that in the past had been leaned on to salvage lean years or turn them into triumphant ones.
The Ferrari that starred at Monza prepared for the celebration meticulously (it was curious to see team principal Fred Vasseur being playful during the commemorative photo in the pit lane, spraying everyone nearby with a bottle of Ferrari Trento) and got everything right.
The question that arises is: Has this Ferrari used all its ammunition in the Italian GP, and should we prepare to see it back as the third or fourth force in the upcoming races? The calendar offers two more races in succession, Baku and Singapore, which, at least on paper, should be favorable to the red team. So, it’s fair to ask if the Scuderia we saw at Monza could repeat its performance in the upcoming GPs.
We had emphasized the underbody that was supposed to correct the bouncing of the SF-24: the goal was achieved, with a solution that doesn’t add downforce but makes the car more drivable for the pilots, giving them more confidence to extract the maximum potential from the car. One might have thought that the rest of the substantial update package was designed only for Monza, but it seems that’s not the case.
The sleeker nose, more sculpted underneath, and the more tapered engine cover below the bazooka’s end have changed the flow patterns, making the SF-24 more flexible in strategies.
The new Monza track surface, much more tire-wearing, led McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes to switch from a one-stop to a two-stop race strategy. Ferrari, however, came with the intention of doing just one stop and managed to stick to this plan, betting that even with the choice of less aerodynamic downforce (the front and rear wings were specifically designed for Monza’s straights), the SF-24 would excel in preserving tire wear, combating the onset of graining.
The team took a gamble, and the driver believed in it: Charles Leclerc gave a clear example of his competitive maturity. No one has ever questioned his speed, but the Monegasque driver has now shown himself to be a master in tire management. This characteristic of the car, which already emerged in Zandvoort, was highlighted and refined at Monza.
So, if it’s true that the SF-24 won’t be a “grasshopper” bouncing over bumps and long, supportive curves, despite being a car with less downforce than some rivals, it could still make an impact both in Baku and Singapore (where Carlos Sainz won last year).
And while at McLaren, despite the puzzling papaya regulation, the two drivers are battling fiercely, Ferrari can count on the full cooperation of its two drivers: the Spaniard, who is on his way out to make room for Lewis Hamilton, contributed to Leclerc’s success by slowing Oscar Piastri’s return.
In short, this Ferrari is giving itself until Singapore to understand its role in this championship. If, as it seems, the Monza package is not limited to the Temple of Speed but is flexible enough to work in the upcoming races, then the Scuderia could become a variable in the Constructors’ Championship, which has been seen as a duel between Red Bull and McLaren.
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