The first races of 2024 have provided early indications of what Ferrari could achieve with the SF-24. The 676 project began with the objective of making fundamental changes compared to the 2023 package.
While the Maranello-based team is still behind Red Bull, they are comfortably ahead of Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin. Red Bull has raised the bar once again this year with the RB20.
As it stands, the reigning Champions currently have a four-tenths advantage over the Italian outfit. This gap is the same as it was at the end of last season. Still, Fred Vasseur’s personnel are satisfied with the work carried out in recent months.
New floor generates significant performance
Last season, Ferrari began with an unpredictable and volatile car. In 2024, it only took a few laps for drivers to feel more at ease with the SF-24. An important exercise for Ferrari over winter and the first two rounds has been to “understand” their completely new project.
The SF-24 is the first car to embrace the full downwash concept fully. Maranello has opted for a unique compromise to establish a strong foundation for development.
Among the various new macro elements on the SF-24 is the floor. This new design has been crucial in generating efficient load at high speeds whilst retaining aerodynamic stability.
Top view of the bottom of the Ferrari SF-24 – Illustration Rosario Giuliana
Thanks to a reduction in the size of the gearbox, a more tapered keel has been achieved. Ferrari has also pushed the anti-intrusion cone inside the floor.
These are the main changes compared to the 2023 specification introduced at Suzuka. From what we have learned from Maranello, Ferrari has also done a lot of work on composite materials and their rigidity. As a result, the SF-24 has greater structural strength.
Small update in Australia, but the most important package will arrive in Imola
The third round of the season will take place at Melbourne’s Albert Park, another semi-permanent track like the one in Jeddah.
The Australian GP is the last “atypical” layout before China and Japan. These more conventional circuits will allow for more definitive verdicts on these 2024 cars.
There will be a small rear wing upgrade in Australia, where a new aerodynamic element will be added to the pylon to improve the efficiency of the Italian car’s rear axle. Ferrari’s rear end seems to be the area where the SF-24 can develop and find the most performance.
The rear wings of the Ferrari SF-24 – Illustration Rosario Giuliana
While Bahrain is a stop-and-go circuit, Jeddah has many high-speed zones, smooth asphalt, and lower downforce.
From this point of view, Melbourne is more of a middle ground between the two circuits, with a downforce level closer to that of Bahrain than Jeddah.
However, unlike other cars, the Ferraris have adopted the same rear wing specification, only adjusting the incidence of the beam wings.
Still, the large DRS areas should favour the adoption of more downforce, which is useful for managing medium-speed corners and stability on exit. Regarding the most important updates for Ferrari, as we anticipated, the target remains fixed for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The SF-24 bodywork and the floor will be the macro-areas subject to aerodynamic changes on what we defined as the ‘1.o version’ of the SF-24. These changes, therefore, are the first significant alterations to the 2024 Ferrari channel.
Generally speaking, the team’s performance is consistent with what they anticipated in the wind tunnel. As a result, there is confidence in Maranello that upgrades will have their desired impact.
This allows for courageous and aggressive developments to be pursued – which will be seen in the upcoming rounds.
