The Ferrari has been the second-fastest team of 2024 so far. Ferrari is only 21 points behind Red Bull – claiming double the points from this time last year. Formula 1’s hopes of a more hotly contested World Championship are firmly in the Maranello team’s hands. Toto Wolff has already given up on Max Verstappen, declaring him uncatchable. McLaren does not believe they are at Ferrari’s level, let alone Red Bull’s. Aston Martin is fighting to be a little more competitive on Sunday, although they are still a long way from fighting for wins.
Although next year’s car will be a continuation from this year, Ferrari technical director Enrico Cardile had spoken about the team’s potential for flexibility and interventions on the SF-24, why?
The budget cap will greatly limit development work in 2025. After all, the new 2026 cars will absorb 80% of the resources of most teams. Intentional and targeted development will be necessary in this regard. Some teams have regressed in the short term – such as Alpine and Sauber – with hopes of medium and long-term recoveries. Ferrari changed their concept a year ago and sacrificed much of 2023 to have an improved platform. Mercedes were in a similar position, although they are still unable to replicate their factory data on track.
“Our car has a more stable platform, and we need flexibility. If we evaluate advantages, we will adopt them; we are ready to change plans,” said the technical director during the Ferrari presentation.
The technical breakthrough came after some closed-door evaluations
Cardile’s technical team has approved Ferrari’s first development package, which will be of significant scope. It is a massive package that will take the apparently “conventional” concepts present on the SF-24 to the extreme.
We can dare to define the upgraded SF-24 as a “2.0 version” from Imola onwards. Ferrari will adopt an aerodynamic design that was initially tested and set aside – but which has now been confirmed after further evaluation. The radiator inlets will be “reversed,“ adopting a different compromise to ensure greater development opportunities.
The SF-24 will be equipped with a new inlet, which will not only be more extreme in terms of openings but – contrary to the initial orientation – will take up the idea of the Red Bull with the inverted lip. This evolution goes back to the importance of flexibility that Cardile mentioned. This aggressiveness, in some respects, goes against the trend of the development plans adopted by Ferrari in recent years.
However, some in-depth analysis and wind tunnel studies – carried out in parallel with the current SF-24 – have provided greater gains than expected. However, Ferrari’s platform has given them the flexibility to ensure these improvements are forthcoming. Upgrades that were initially going to be staggered in Miami will now be brought in totality in Imola.

The solution for the Red Bull RB20 inlets on the Ferrari SF-24 – Illustration by Rosario Giuliana
Vasseur and Cardile asked to put everything you need in the car, without frills or fears, the aerodynamicists led by Diego Tondi can push.
The Imola package will be the first of three big upgrades this year and will include the new Red Bull-style upgrades. The new inlets will be reversed compared to the initial SF-24 solutions. They will be RB20-inspired but not an actual copy.
Ferrari will adopt its own interpretation of the upturned mouths on the evolved SF-24, also present in a less extreme manner on the McLaren. The most important innovation in terms of “pure performance” comes from the changes to the bottom, with a restyling of the conveyors.
A minor upgrade to the front wing is being finalized. However, for now, it has been decided not to bring anything forward to Miami for the moment. Changes to the Ferrari 2.0 will also concern the switches on the cockpit sides.
The SF-24 represented on the track what the engineers expected. If everything goes as it should and the performance continues to be consistent with expectations, the technicians expect an increase of 1 tenth of load and 1 and a half tenth of efficiency. The target is to broaden set-up options, which will be essential in qualifying. Having a more efficient load in the corners indirectly gives the technicians greater scope for more aggressive mechanical settings.
The objectives of these attempts are clear. Ferrari wants to put pressure on Verstappen, as Fred Vasseur himself has outlined.