Ferrari: between updates and F1 calendar, winning again is possible for SF24

10/06/2024 01:03 PM

The Maranello team leaves behind the favorable circuits of Monza, Baku, and Singapore, looking ahead to the future. The only remaining friendly track for Ferrari is Las Vegas, but the team hopes to compete for victory at other venues as well. Much will depend on the effectiveness of the updates, both those introduced in September and those expected at the 5.513-kilometre Circuit of The Americas in Austin. Securing at least one more win would not only boost internal morale but also help Ferrari close the gap to second place in the championship, currently held by Red Bull, just 34 points ahead.

Dreaming of a jackpot in Las Vegas
Among the remaining circuits, the Nevada track is the most favorable to Ferrari, playing to its strengths. The Las Vegas circuit has similarities to the Baku city circuit, with a dominance of short, slow, 90-degree corners that highlight the SF-24's responsiveness on entry and traction on exit. Additionally, the United States track requires low downforce setups, where Ferrari continues to demonstrate good efficiency.

Despite missing out on victory, Ferrari emerged as the best car at Baku, and there's reason to believe it could be again in Las Vegas. Last year's edition also showed that the cold Nevada night causes significant tire graining, and so far, the SF-24 has been among the most effective cars in managing this. There are still concerns about the difficulties in warming up the tires in qualifying, which will undoubtedly be a key issue in the cooler local temperatures. Nevertheless, Las Vegas represents Ferrari's best chance of winning between now and the end of the year, though not the only one.

Update chapter
The next race on the calendar is Austin, a track historically well-suited to Ferrari. One small concern is the bumpy asphalt, as the SF-24 struggles to handle irregularities at high speeds, so much so that Charles Leclerc appreciated the leveling of Monza’s curbs after resurfacing work. However, Ferrari's performance in Texas will mainly depend on the effectiveness of its updates, starting with the ones already introduced. For example, Ferrari has not yet been able to evaluate the developments introduced at Monza on a traditional circuit. The priority will be to ensure that the bouncing issues have been resolved, and the uneven surface of Austin provides the perfect testing ground for this.

In addition to this, Ferrari will introduce a new update package in the works at Maranello, with the new front wing introduced in the Singapore Grand Prix being the first part. The new specification aims to increase downforce on the front axle, an area where Ferrari has been lacking on certain tracks and which will be crucial at circuits like Qatar and Mexico City. It will also be necessary to evaluate whether and how much the upcoming developments address other weaknesses of the SF-24, such as stability through longer corners and downforce at medium-low speeds when the floor works farther from the ground.

Other variables
If the updates prove effective and if Ferrari can match McLaren at Austin as it did on the atypical tracks in September, then no circuit would seem out of reach for the team. Brazil appears to be McLaren's ideal hunting ground, while Abu Dhabi, another track dominated by slow, short corners, offers Ferrari another opportunity, alongside the aforementioned Las Vegas.

On the other hand, Ferrari's competitiveness in the final quarter of the season will also depend on the updates from rivals, particularly McLaren. Woking's last two aerodynamic update packages have been worth four-tenths each compared to Red Bull, but every new development carries risks, which the British team has so far avoided. Finally, half of the remaining races will feature the Sprint format, with only one free practice session to fine-tune the car. There are plenty of variables, encouraging Ferrari to believe that it can deliver at least one more joy to its fans before the end of the year.

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