P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull managed to find marginal gains to achieve their blistering lap times with the RB19, but that might not always favour some teams. RacingNews365 technical analyst Paolo Filisetti explains why Ferrari will not go all-out to copy their rivals.
There are only four weeks left until Ferrari unveils its 2024 Formula 1 car and more details are starting to emerge about the new vehicle. The technical office is currently evaluating and validating the first developments, using CFD and wind tunnel simulations. These initial modifications will be tested in Bahrain and will also impact the configuration of the car in Saudi Arabia and Melbourne. It appears that the aerodynamic concept of the new car will follow the trend set by Red Bull in 2022, specifically adopting sloping sidepods to enhance the downward flow of air to the rear axle. Although the Ferrari car will draw inspiration from Red Bull’s design, it will not be a direct copy. The new car will feature changes to the lateral crushable structures, allowing for more radical aerodynamic developments in the lower section of the sidepods. Additionally, the suspension and front section of the chassis will undergo significant modifications, leading to improved aerodynamics and increased laminar flow under the car. The sidepods will also have a different shape from the previous model, positioning them a few centimeters further back from the air inlets to reduce turbulence caused by the front wheels. However, excessive reduction in cooling air intakes is not recommended, as engineers need to consider heat exchange for engine reliability.
