Ferrari is preparing for the long-awaited Imola Grand Prix with a lot of excitement. There was already plenty of excitement from the media about the SF-24’s filming day in Firono. “If we put everything together correctly, we will certainly have a better race at Imola also thanks to the updates we will bring to the track,” underlined Fred Vasseur after the Miami GP. However, the Ferrari boss still wants to manage expectations.
This upgrade package is important. Confirmation of its impact will arrive when it hits the track this weekend. The Scuderia’s 2024 timetable always featured the introduction of these updates at Inmola.
NO HICCUPS IN THE 200 KM, BUT CAUTION REMAINS
In the two days of Fiorano, Ferrari completed extensive work. These included testing the FIA mud flaps and the most important filming day. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz shared the 200 km allowed this year by the regulations. This distance is double compared to the limits imposed last season. Both drivers used this opportunity to get up to speed with the considerable evolutionary package for the SF-24
The updated Ferrar, which we defined as a 2.0 version of the launch specification, carried out the planned work program without any kind of hitch. The first data collected gave an initial outcome in line with what they expected in Maranello.
However, the team knows that Imola will not answer all of their questions about the effectiveness of this package. Ferrari is still relying on its drivers to optimise its package and—critically—improve set-up.
At the beginning of the season, Ferrari planned to carry out the second filming on the Barcelona circuit in June. However, an adjustment was made to the team’s development strategy. Rather than implementing an intermediate update – like Aston Martin in Japan – the focus has been to introduce the entire package at Imola. There has been a lot of optimism among Enrico Cardile’s ranks about this update. Not only in terms of pure performance but also regarding what these updates can unlock in the long- term.
However, there always remains a certain fear of raising expectations. Aston Martin and Mercedes are examples of teams whose updates have failed to deliver.
IMOLA WILL GIVE A FIRST VERDICT ALSO THANKS TO THE FEEDBACK FROM THE RIDERS
The objective of the first major update package is to obtain 15 additional points seen in the simulations between load and efficiency. At Fiorano, Ferrari tested the entire package with the new belly entrances, which are a different compromise to the most important evolved macro-component, which remains the new bottom.
The latter, aesthetically, therefore in the upper part, will not be too different but, from the information collected, it will be “completely renewed” in the lower part to give an important boost in terms of extra load generated.
On 13th February, when the SF-24 completed its first kilometres on the Fiorano circuit, both drivers gave very positive feedback. The big steps forward compared to the 2023 car were immediately noticed. Leclerc and Sainz gave plenty away with their body language. On the second and last filming day of the season, from what we gathered, it was much more difficult for Leclerc and Sainz to give feedback. After all, the differences will be less significant than the one between the SF-23 and SF-24.
Fiorano is a track where Ferrari has every type of possible reference. But on a filming day, you can collect a limited amount of data. One reason is the use of a “demo” tyre, which Pirelli and the FIA make available for the 200 km. This offers little space for analysis. Other variables like track temperature can complicate efforts to analyse the data.
In fact, the demo compound tended to overheat more after a few hard laps with the 24°C of last Friday, while last February, it performed with more heat. For this reason, there remains a certain caution in giving a definitive evaluation of the package of updates.
This weekend in Imola will be the first true test, revealing if Ferrari can join McLaren and consistently challenge Verstappen in the RB20.
