Breaking:Ferrari Confident New Front Wing Recovers Lost Performance Ahead of FIA R…read more
Ferrari Confident New Front Wing Recovers Lost Performance Ahead of FIA R…read more
Ferrari’s recent second-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, courtesy of Charles Leclerc, offered a much-needed morale boost and valuable points in the fight for the Constructors’ Championship. Leclerc’s result, combined with Lewis Hamilton’s fifth-place finish, has brought Ferrari closer to its main rivals. Although the Scuderia remains in fourth place in the standings, the gap to Red Bull has shrunk to just one point, while Mercedes, currently second, is only five points ahead. Despite a challenging start to the season, Ferrari believes the tide could still turn in its favor.
As the F1 calendar approaches the ninth round of the season at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, it also signals the beginning of the second triple-header of the year. Importantly, the Spanish Grand Prix marks the introduction of a new FIA technical directive. The directive changes the procedures for static testing of front wing flexion, potentially impacting teams that have benefited from more flexible aerodynamic components.
Internally, Ferrari engineers have expressed confidence that they’ve already addressed the performance drop expected from these more stringent regulations. According to sources within the Maranello-based team, Ferrari’s aerodynamicists have developed a new front wing design that fully compensates for any loss of performance caused by the updated FIA rules.
In the lead-up to the rule change, Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur had previously hinted that rivals such as McLaren might suffer more from the directive. However, ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Vasseur’s tone was more cautious. Acknowledging the importance of consistency and measured progress, Vasseur emphasized that Ferrari is focused on building upon the momentum from the last two races.
“Barcelona marks the start of the second third of the season. It’s a track familiar to all teams and drivers. We come from two positive race weekends, and we also took a step forward in qualifying at Monaco,” Vasseur commented. “The objective is to maintain this upward trend. Of course, the new front wing flexibility tests will be another variable this weekend.”
While Ferrari is optimistic about the effectiveness of its updated front wing, major upgrades are not expected to debut in Spain. Instead, the team has scheduled more substantial developments for upcoming races. A new floor is rumored to arrive in either Canada or Austria, with an upgraded rear suspension package targeted for Silverstone.
Despite these plans, some concerns have been raised about Ferrari’s development pace. Compared to other top teams, Ferrari’s response time in implementing technical updates appears slower. This has led to internal pressure, particularly directed at Loic Serra’s department, with some reportedly pushing for faster execution of upgrades.
Nonetheless, the team is hopeful that its strategic updates and regained aerodynamic performance will allow it to challenge for higher positions. With a more competitive front wing in place and critical upgrades on the horizon, Ferrari’s campaign for a stronger second half of the season
remains alive.
