2024 Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team

[mvfad]

Maybe I now understand why Sainz improved so much after the Ferrari Team Principal change.

[ScuderiaLeo]

New article from Formu1a.uno on the 2024, 2025, and 2026 cars. https://formu1a.uno/it/ferrari-rinnovat ... a-renault/

Work is progressing in the factory on three simultaneous projects: simulations of the latest technical updates for the SF-24, preparing for the upcoming triple header of Austin, Mexico, and Interlagos; intensive development of the 677 project, which is undergoing more changes than expected, especially in areas of the car that were previously considered untouchable; and the 2026 project.

The first 678/2026 model will be born soon, and Enrico Gualtieri's power unit department is in full development swing. The development of the new 2026 power unit is at an important stage, and reliability tests are being conducted alongside its development, with each step passed allowing for further progress. Currently, there are no significant limitations. [...] Several neutral engine experts believe that, in terms of architecture, no one is as prepared as Mercedes and Ferrari, who will likely be strong, at least in the first year. Honda remains a big question mark since their current situation is nothing like 2014. Aramco is able to experiment better with the 100% biofuels. Since last year, Formula 2 and Formula 3 have been working with Aramco to pave the way for low-carbon fuels. Audi is catching up, as Binotto admitted, but despite the elimination of the MGU-H, their understanding curve is not at the level of the top teams. Renault has given up.

All engineers are saying the same thing: the draft has been defined, but whatever the final regulations for 2026, the powertrain will dictate the rules of engagement with the chassis. Firstly, because the state of development—meaning the cooling requirements, especially considering the powerful battery in addition to the combustion engine (which will have a lesser impact)—will inevitably be much more advanced. Secondly, because unlike the current cars, a large percentage of downforce in corners will once again be provided by wing adjustments. In theory, we should expect many more flap adjustments to be available. Achieving the target power helps the cars use the most appropriate load possible in fast corners, not to mention low-speed driving in ‘Z mode,’ which involves maximum drag. [...]

The most talented young designers have been promoted for aero studies. The new recruits from the engineering academy, now in its 10th year, are producing notable results. There have been few arrivals and departures among the engine staff, and the mood in Maranello is certainly stable in the PU department. Enrico Gualtieri (and Tondi) had no intention of leaving, which solidified the department’s core structure. Contrary to interpretations of Renault CEO De Meo’s comments, no major figures from Viry-Chatillon are expected to join Maranello, probably only some junior technicians. Other manufacturers may be more interested in taking on some of the excess personnel after Renault’s shocking abandonment of the 2026 power unit project.

The most interesting thing to me is the part about next year's car... very curious about what areas they're developing that they didn't anticipate would be changed?

Reading the part about there being more flap adjustments available in 2026, I suddenly had a vision of Charles doing something crazy...

[Vanja #66]

Perhaps think they didn't initially plan to change the chassis and front suspension for next year. As they decided to move to pull rod, new chassis is needed so more areas can also be improved as well. Moving the cockpit and CoG back is good, as it will allow them to load the rear a lot more than they can now without introducing understeer. It's not huge, but it can be considered almost "free" downforce when looking at aero balance requirements

Nugnes is again repeating that new gearbox will also be made, to move the engine to the rear as well. That would be a big and expensive change, but it's not completely impossible and it would certainly be helpful with CoG migration

[KimiRai]

Pretty big changes for what will be the last year of regulations. It is a possibility that Ferrari could fight for the championship in 2025. I would wait a bit before criticising Lewis for his choice

[dialtone]

Regulations are different but budget cap isn’t. Have to build highly reusable parts or you won’t be able to make it.

Furthermore next regs will be about engines at the start.

[organic]

Motorsport.com says a new front wing for COTA and new floor parts for Mexico?

[FDD]

As they decided to move to pull rod,...

Is there any info on this or it's a prediction?

[Vanja #66]

Is there any info on this or it's a prediction?

At the moment, I think it's now a public secret basically. Not official, but every Italian outlet repeats the same thing Komatsu smiled and said he can't comment when formu1a.uno asked him about it months ago

[FDD]

Is there any info on this or it's a prediction?

At the moment, I think it's now a public secret basically. Not official, but every Italian outlet repeats the same thing Komatsu smiled and said he can't comment when formu1a.uno asked him about it months ago

Was asking because I did not see any info about that, so I was wandering if I missed something.
AFAIK they'll go in that direction if they find out that aero gains are appreciable with pull rod layout and if I understand well the front part of the car is dictating the whole aero flow design approach all along the rest parts and in that case we can expect other changes also. Maybe with pull rod switch they can make over bite sidepods inlets more effective, I'm guessing and you'll give, (I expect) your opinion on that.

[Vanja #66]

Was asking because I did not see any info about that, so I was wandering if I missed something.
AFAIK they'll go in that direction if they find out that aero gains are appreciable with pull rod layout and if I understand well the front part of the car is dictating the whole aero flow design approach all along the rest parts and in that case we can expect other changes also. Maybe with pull rod switch they can make over bite sidepods inlets more effective, I'm guessing and you'll give, (I expect) your opinion on that.

There are also some packaging differences other than aero. In an interview this year, Newey said that they chose pull-rod because a push-rod would be almost horizontal with their design approach so they went with pull-rod. While this might be true, angled pull rod generates slight outwash and angled push-rod generates inwash, so I doubt Newey didn't take this into account. But misdirection is still crucial in F1 and critical details must be kept secret

In my view, if it tuns out to be true, the biggest and most important change for next year will be moving the cockpit to the rear. Nugnes might be right when he says another new gearbox will be made to also allow PU to move to the rear and I guess fuel tank and batteries would move as well. All of this will allow a more loaded rear end and these cars suffer from a weak front by design (very high front wing per rules and you need to keep it unloaded as much as possible to allow the floor to work at optimal point) so it's a lot easier to add rear downforce than front.

[FDD]

While this might be true, angled pull rod generates slight outwash and angled push-rod generates inwash, so I doubt Newey didn't take this into account. But misdirection is still crucial in F1 and critical details must be kept secret

Thank you for that inwash/outwash info, in that case my opinion is that the crucial decision is the aero philosophy that they'll choose for that particular part of the car and for the whole car.
Pretty ungrateful subject for discussion since "misdirection is still crucial in F1 and critical details must be kept secret" as you said.

[ScuderiaLeo]

Motorsport.com says a new front wing for COTA and new floor parts for Mexico?

“New” front wing or simply an adjusted version of the previous one?

[deadhead]

Perhaps think they didn't initially plan to change the chassis and front suspension for next year. As they decided to move to pull rod, new chassis is needed so more areas can also be improved as well. Moving the cockpit and CoG back is good, as it will allow them to load the rear a lot more than they can now without introducing understeer. It's not huge, but it can be considered almost "free" downforce when looking at aero balance requirements

Nugnes is again repeating that new gearbox will also be made, to move the engine to the rear as well. That would be a big and expensive change, but it's not completely impossible and it would certainly be helpful with CoG migration

I think it's not a secret that HAM likes the seat a far back as possible as well so that could be another benefit.

Changing so many things could also backfire, but I doubt they will make any colossal mistakes

[yooogurt]

Motorsport.com says a new front wing for COTA and new floor parts for Mexico?

But Gazzetta says there's a new floor in Austin, hmm:

Which the technicians have been working on for about six weeks, after Leclerc's triumph at Monza, confident that they have finally solved the pesky problem of high speed shocks ( porpoise ) and added more performance to the SF-24.
ps. Serra will not only focus on the 2026 car, but will immediately contribute to the development of the 2025 car, which is in the final stages of definition. It is known by the acronym 677 or as the “Lewis car”.

https://www.gazzetta.it/motori/ferrari/ ... n-f1.shtml

[scuderiabrandon]

Motorsport.com says a new front wing for COTA and new floor parts for Mexico?

But Gazzetta says there's a new floor in Austin, hmm:

Which the technicians have been working on for about six weeks, after Leclerc's triumph at Monza, confident that they have finally solved the pesky problem of high speed shocks ( porpoise ) and added more performance to the SF-24.
ps. Serra will not only focus on the 2026 car, but will immediately contribute to the development of the 2025 car, which is in the final stages of definition. It is known by the acronym 677 or as the “Lewis car”.

https://www.gazzetta.it/motori/ferrari/ ... n-f1.shtml

Too much guess work atm. Corriere also says all new parts in Austin. I'll personally be waiting Formula uno to say something.

Nugnes and another source whom both agree that the upgrade will be split, use speculative language such as “could” & “seem” so automatically I think they don't really know what is going on, just rushing to get stuff out. They could be right but I take their stuff with massive grains of salt.

The mixed reports, and the lack of reports from the more reliable sources tells me perhaps the team is not sharing as much information as they have previously.