The World Championship Circus is preparing to face the Emilia Romagna GP weekend in a context full of news and curiosities, especially on the Ferrari front. From the SF-24’s upgrades to the mudflaps tested in Fiorano, it has been a busy time for Ferrari. Oliver Bearman has spoken about this test, explaining whether visibility in wet conditions.
BEARMAN ON THE MUDFLAPS TESTED BY FERRARI: “THEY HAVEN’T SOLVED THE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS YET”
The Cavallino reserve driver, who at Fiorano tested the solution aimed at reducing the water expelled from the single-seaters in the wet, commented on the test as follows:
“I followed Arthur Leclerc, who was racing with wheel covers,” Bearman told the microphones of motorsport.com.
The 18-year-old Briton explained what the test session consisted of:
“We tried a few different setups, but we only wet the straights just to see if you could follow. We did four or five runs trying different levels of opening, because if they are completely closed, it becomes quite harsh for the tyre temperatures.”
Bearman then highlighted a problem that the federation will obviously have to deal with if it opts for the introduction of splash guards. The British driver explained how further improvements are necessary to find a solution:
“I think the problem is that these cars produce so much aerodynamic load from the floor that the air is energized from there. And, of course, the spray follows the air. Visibility was still quite poor.
“It was certainly slightly better; the work went in that direction, but the problem was not solved.”
Bearman, therefore, passed the ball to the FIA’s course, effectively rejecting the solution tried last week:
“More work will be needed by the FIA.”
BEARMAN’S WEEKEND, BETWEEN FP1 WITH HAAS AND COMMITMENT IN F2
Meanwhile, Oliver Bearman prepares for his commitments in F1 and F2. After his extraordinary debut in Jeddah at the wheel of the SF-24, where he replaced the injured Carlos Sainz, tomorrow morning, he will take to the track for Haas in practice one.
During the season, the Englishman will continue this type of program with a view to a possible debut as a starting driver in 2025. In the meantime, however, Bearman has underlined that performing in F2 is the priority.
Formula 2 returns this weekend for the first time since Australia. The Prema driver, like teammate Kimi Antonelli, will look to have a strong weekend. In unusual fashion, PREMA has faced its fair share of issues in 2024.
