The event undertaken by Ferrari throughout the 2024 System 1 championship is essentially totally different from that of the earlier season. In 2023, the Maranello crew’s engineers and technicians shortly acknowledged the automotive’s points, implementing corrective measures throughout the season to salvage a flawed undertaking whereas exploring a brand new path for the next 12 months. Thus, the SF-24 was designed primarily based on a brand new idea, extra driver-friendly and centered on race efficiency reasonably than the one-lap tempo within the qualifying session. The event of the 2024 automotive goals to refine a younger and technically uncooked undertaking, making the SF-24 more and more full and aggressive, albeit with some setbacks alongside the way in which. Let’s check out the principle aerodynamic updates developed in Maranello throughout the 12 months.
A cautious begin
Within the early races of the 2024 System 1 season, Ferrari restricted itself to circuit-specific diversifications whereas making ready the primary main aerodynamic replace package deal for spring. Within the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a medium-downforce rear wing debuted, accompanied by a single-profile beam wing that appeared solely throughout the third free apply session. Within the Australian Grand Prix, minor tweaks have been made, such because the addition of two flaps on the perimeters of the rear wing helps. Lastly, in Japan, additional diversifications have been launched for the beam wing and rear wing, together with new fairings on the rear suspension arms to higher handle airflow across the gearbox and diffuser.
Imola
After a quick shakedown on the Fiorano circuit, the primary main aerodynamic improve package deal for the SF-24 debuted within the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix weekend. A brand new ground design was launched, with seen adjustments to the facet edges. The bodywork was revised, that includes inverted facet air intakes and deeper undercut sections underneath the sidepods to enhance airflow towards the rear and improve native stress, shielding the ground from turbulence.
The cooling system was additionally marked by key adjustments, with a brand new format for the shops on the engine cowl and the sealing of the bypass duct exit behind the halo mounts. Further updates included new fairings for the rear suspension arms and tweaks to the entrance wing flaps.
Monte Carlo
Ferrari returned to victory on the streets of Monte Carlo within the Monaco Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc celebrating a historic dwelling Grand Prix win. The consequence was aided by typical Monaco-specific diversifications, similar to a high-downforce rear wing and equally loaded beam wing.
Barcelona
Lower than a month after the Imola package deal, the second evolutionary step for the SF-24 arrived with excessive hopes within the Spanish Grand Prix. A brand new ground design debuted, specializing in the diffuser and underside, with adjustments hid externally. Additional sculpting was achieved underneath the sidepods, together with refinements to the aerodynamic appendages across the halo. A brand new high-downforce package deal, together with a rear wing and beam wing, additionally debuted.
Total, the package deal elevated aerodynamic downforce however exacerbated the bouncing and porpoising points that had persevered because the begin of the 12 months. Ferrari carried out comparative assessments with the outdated specification in Austria and England, looking for to handle the problems by way of setup changes. Lastly, on the Hungaroring circuit, a corrected model of the brand new ground debuted, conserving bouncing inside acceptable limits.
Spa
As anticipated, Ferrari launched the primary diversifications for low-downforce tracks throughout the second half of the season in Belgium on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The entrance wing featured much less aggressive flaps, whereas a brand new single-profile beam wing appeared on the rear. Essentially the most important replace was the low-downforce rear wing, which reappeared at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Monza
The house race marked the debut of options to the bouncing points amplified by the Barcelona aerodynamic package deal. Key updates have been made beneath the ground, with seen adjustments to the periphery suggesting evolution reasonably than revolution of the earlier design. A brand new diffuser with a keel on the finish of the central ramp was additionally launched, together with tweaks to the bodywork. Ferrari celebrated one other victory with Charles Leclerc, aided by a low-downforce package deal that included a rear wing, beam wing, and entrance wing flaps.
Singapore
On the evening race, Ferrari launched a brand new entrance wing initially scheduled for america Grand Prix in Austin, a month later. The wing featured important adjustments to airflow distribution across the suspension arms and ground, with extra loaded profiles within the central part in comparison with the sides. Notable work was additionally achieved on the junction between the flaps and the endplate, correcting vortex technology on this space to counteract turbulence from the entrance wheels.
Austin
The brand new wing from Singapore hinted at a extra substantial package deal in Texas, however expectations have been unmet. Ferrari as an alternative centered on enhancing the entrance wing’s flexibility, contemplating the FIA’s choice to not modify deformation assessments earlier than the 12 months’s finish. “It’s not that we don’t deliver updates simply because we don’t announce them. What we declare are solely adjustments to exterior shapes,” mentioned Staff Principal Vasseur after the victorious Austin weekend. His phrases spotlight that noticed updates characterize solely a fraction of the 12 months’s total growth.
Las Vegas
Within the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, the Ferrari engineers and technicians carried out preliminary assessments with an eye fixed towards 2025. Throughout the first free apply session in Nevada, Carlos Sainz’s SF-24 automotive was outfitted with a modified ground to confirm wind tunnel correlation following current upgrades to Maranello’s infrastructure. Ferrari aimed to assemble knowledge on ground habits at minimal floor clearance close to observe floor contact. This ground was additionally utilized in Qatar and through Abu Dhabi’s Friday and take a look at classes. Described by Charles Leclerc as “a distinct method,” the brand new specification goals to handle continual instability in lengthy corners, a difficulty Ferrari plans to eradicate with its first automotive for Lewis Hamilton.
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