Ferrari technical preview: how SF-24 is gearing up for Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan
09/10/2024 01:26 PM
After the great success at the Monza circuit in the Italian Grand Prix, Scuderia Ferrari is focusing on Baku and Singapore to further improve the trend of recent races. The Azeri track presents some similar characteristics to Monza, but the technical compromise is entirely different. Traction and top speed are essential, but low-speed cornering is even more important. Let’s see, in this technical preview, how the Ferrari SF-24 will show up in Baku for the 17th race of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Spa-style wing
Ferrari will seek an aerodynamic compromise with the medium-low downforce rear wing introduced at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. This wing choice is necessary to avoid losing balance in the slow part of the track. Part of the first and second sectors are extremely technical and feature several low-speed corners where a good level of downforce is required. This will allow the SF-24 single-seater to also gain in DRS efficiency thanks to the larger chord of the movable flap.
In addition to the downforce provided by the floor, the SF-24 car will seek additional support from the wings, with the rear wing needing to follow the front wing precisely. Besides the car’s aerodynamic setup, the mechanical setup will be crucial, with a rather soft rear suspension extension setup. This feature will allow the car to “squat” and maximize traction when exiting the numerous 90° corners. Front-end support and the front suspension setup will be very important, ensuring the car can enter the crucial castle section efficiently. With a relatively soft setup, the Ferrari can enter corners quickly and be sharp in the most critical sections.
Returning to the rear, the differential setup will be key, with an almost maximum opening to allow the wheels to improve cornering performance. Great attention will be given to the cooling system for the brakes and power unit. The team could hit the track with three openings per side on the engine cover, essential for evacuating heat and facilitating heat exchange. These openings could change over the weekend depending on the heat conditions in Baku.
Managing tire temperature will be crucial, as after the 2 km straight, they could enter turn 1 almost cold. In this regard, the softer compounds of the Pirelli range, C3, C4, and C5, should help the Maranello team in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend.
Source: f1ingenerale
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