Ferrari SF-24: key foundational elements essential for aiming higher in 2025

12/30/2024 07:02 AM

On the eve of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ferrari’s rallying cry was to believe and push to the last lap to leave no room for regret. While the Constructors' Championship did not go Maranello's way, broadening the perspective, the fact that Ferrari fought for the title until the end underscores the growth achieved throughout the year.

In a season that proved extremely challenging on multiple fronts for many teams, Ferrari demonstrated several positive aspects to build upon in pursuit of the championship. To understand why, we must revisit the story of this championship, starting with its beginnings, when Ferrari emerged as the second-strongest force behind Red Bull in the early races.

Like Mercedes, Ferrari decided to change its concept in 2023, but unlocking its true potential required the winter development phase, including a chassis redesign. As in previous years, the work carried out in Maranello during the off-season bore fruit. Given the struggles of Mercedes and McLaren, Ferrari quickly asserted itself as the second force on the grid.

A Solid Foundation from the Start
Although the gap to Red Bull remained considerable, starting the season with a solid foundation for continued development was a key objective. While there were still areas to address, such as performance in long and high-speed corners, the progress made with the SF-24 during the winter was evident, with notable advancements across several areas.

In terms of overall performance, data highlighted improvements in medium-to-high-speed corners at circuits like Saudi Arabia and Japan. For instance, at Suzuka, where the SF-23 lost around six-tenths in the first sector alone at the end of last year, the gap this season was more than halved. This was due in part to the SF-24 being fundamentally different from its predecessor, not only in strengths but also in balance and handling.

One of the objectives was to make the car more predictable and easier to drive than the SF-23, which was often difficult to handle, particularly in strong wind conditions due to its aerodynamic map. From the outset, the 2024 car proved to be not only more manageable and intuitive for the drivers but also well-balanced.

On the other hand, the SF-24 also differed from its predecessor in specific traits, such as its ability to preserve tire life over long distances, though this came at the cost of quickly bringing tires into their optimal performance window during qualifying. This was a recurring theme throughout the season, particularly when extracting maximum grip from the soft tires in Q3, where the team faced some additional challenges.

Despite areas requiring further work, the progress observed in the early races confirmed the effectiveness of the winter development efforts. Ferrari secured podium finishes in almost every one of the first six Grands Prix, with the sole exception of China. This was a crucial factor, as the solid foundation allowed the team to shift its focus to development, with the first upgrade package arriving in Imola.

Monaco Was the Brightest Gem of Ferrari's First Half of the Season
Monaco stood out as the most dazzling highlight of the first half of the championship for Ferrari, showcasing Charles Leclerc's exceptional talent on the streets of the Principality and highlighting some of the SF-24's best qualities. This came despite the car often falling short in qualifying performance throughout the year. However, in Monte Carlo, where qualifying is everything, Ferrari did not disappoint, leveraging a track that suited the car's characteristics.

The Return of Bouncing Revealed Strengths and Weaknesses
The joy of Monaco preceded Ferrari's most challenging period of 2024: the midseason phase. In Canada, as later admitted by the Maranello team, a setup mistake cost them, but it paradoxically became a critical lesson applied in the second half of the championship. More complicated was the triple-header of Spain, Austria, and Great Britain, where Ferrari stumbled into a common 2024 pitfall—errors in development.

In an effort to enhance downforce, Ferrari introduced a substantial upgrade package in Barcelona, including a new floor. However, the updates brought back aggressive bouncing, which not only compromised the car's performance but also eroded driver confidence.

The Austrian GP illustrated this issue starkly, with the bouncing so severe that the team abandoned the new floor by Silverstone.

Even reverting to an older specification that provided more stability and less aggressive peaks in downforce, Ferrari found itself lagging behind competitors like Red Bull and McLaren, particularly in high-speed sections. Although initial corrections were made by Hungary, partially alleviating the bouncing, it was evident that these fixes alone could not close the gap. More significant developments had to wait until after the summer break.

Lessons from a Difficult Phase
Reflecting on the season, Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur pointed to this challenging period as a critical factor in losing points in the Constructors’ Championship:

“I don't want to make a list, but with the new updates, we had three or four consecutive races where we struggled a bit. During this period, we lost about 80 or 90 points compared to McLaren,”* Vasseur stated.

Indeed, this difficulty coincided with the season's most delicate phase—a grueling calendar featuring three consecutive high-speed circuits, followed by a brief one-week break, then two more races. While Ferrari introduced fixes between Silverstone and Budapest, the compressed schedule of five Grands Prix in six weeks left little time for comprehensive intervention, costing valuable points in the championship battle.

A Strong Second Half of the Season
Recovering from setbacks is often considered the hallmark of success, and Ferrari embodied this principle. From their midseason struggles, they found their way back, particularly with the upgrades introduced at Monza.

The updates in Italy, followed by improvements to wing flexibility, provided increased downforce and stability without reintroducing the bouncing issues that had plagued the SF-24 earlier. This progress was evident in Austin, where the track highlighted Mercedes’ W15 limitations, while Ferrari excelled in slow corners and clinched another victory.

The same strengths resurfaced in Mexico, where Ferrari secured a second consecutive win, reentering the championship fight. However, familiar issues persisted in subsequent races, such as high-speed corner deficiencies in Qatar and sensitivity to cold conditions, as seen in Las Vegas, where the car struggled to quickly bring its tires into the optimal performance window.

The SF-24 thrived on circuits with sharp corners and long straights, favoring its characteristics. Yet, cold temperatures remained a limiting factor. Ferrari's qualifying struggles this year are another area requiring significant focus during the off-season, as McLaren, for instance, managed to balance single-lap performance with race pace—a feat Ferrari has yet to achieve.

Building Towards 2025
Ferrari's performance in fast sections and long corners remains an area needing improvement, along with combined braking zones that demand greater front-end stability. This was an area where the MCL38 excelled, with McLaren making substantial progress compared to past seasons. Their balanced and effective car showcased its strengths at tracks like Abu Dhabi, underscoring Ferrari's need to address similar deficiencies.

Despite its challenges, Ferrari's season laid a foundation for a completely new 2025 project. The goal is to launch a championship-winning campaign in the final year of this regulatory cycle.

While Ferrari lacked pure performance and technical leadership compared to a McLaren that emphasized reliable updates, the team's cohesion—both technical and human—proved invaluable. Strategic improvements, influenced by Fred Vasseur, became a key asset, forming the bedrock for next season's efforts. With this trajectory, Ferrari dreams of a title-winning year ahead.

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