Formula 1 News: Ferrari Fast-Tracks Upgrades for Spanish Grand Prix to Stay Competitive
Ferrari Accelerates Upgrades for Spanish Grand Prix
Ferrari has accelerated the development and implementation of its latest Formula 1 upgrades in time for the Spanish Grand Prix, as the Maranello squad strives to keep pace with its rivals. Although the results at Barcelona were disappointing, the team attributes this to its historical high-speed bouncing issues, which significantly impacted performance in the fast final sector of the lap.
Optimizing Airflow and Reducing Drag
The new upgrades are an extension of the concept introduced at Imola, focusing on optimizing airflow around the midsection of the car and its journey rearward. According to performance engineer Jock Clear, the changes aim to increase performance without making the car more difficult to drive. “We’ve often spoken about how we’re looking to make the car a bit more benign and we’re looking to calm it down a bit,” Clear explained. “A lot of what we’ve done in the last year, I would say is very much based on that. This is just an incremental upgrade. So this is just a little bit more downforce and a little bit less drag, so it’s slightly more efficient.”
The upgrades include:
- New bodywork in the front portion of the sidepod to better harness the P-shaped inlet arrangement
- Redefined undercut that feeds into the raised waist and beltline
- Significant changes to the floor, with adjustments to the floor fences and lowering of the floor’s roof
- Changes to the shape of the lower SIS cover
- Alterations to the volume at the rear edge of the floor, with subtle geometry changes and a reduced number of brackets
- Transformation of the diffuser, allowing designers to focus on the shape of the boat and keel regions
Further Optimization of Imola’s ‘Cobra’ Winglet
Additionally, the ‘Cobra’ winglet introduced at Imola has been further optimized, with the height of the Cobra more proud than before. The hooked and horizontal portion of the winglet is now more in line with the top edge of the halo beside it, which will impact airflow and the trail of vortices produced.
Circuit-Specific Rear Wing for Spain
Ferrari also brought a circuit-specific update to Spain, introducing a new rear wing designed to provide the right trade-off between downforce and drag for the Circuit de Catalunya. The new specification upper flap and mainplane design sits between the downforce options used at Imola and Monaco, offering another option for the remainder of the season.
Commitment to Development and Competitiveness
Despite the disappointing results in Spain, Ferrari remains committed to its development program, with these latest upgrades aimed at improving performance and competitiveness in the highly competitive Formula 1 standings. With its attention now turned to the next race, the Maranello squad is more determined than ever to get back to the top of the Formula 1 news and Formula 1 standings.
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