Ferrari introduced another incremental upgrade to their car at the Red Bull Ring, featuring a revised floor and front wing.
The objective of the update was twofold: to enhance aerodynamic load and to make the SF23 more stable, expanding its operating capabilities. Ferrari had been grappling with tire wear and inconsistency in race pace, particularly on circuits with high downforce, such as Barcelona.
Initially, the upgrade appeared to be successful. Charles Leclerc, who qualified just half a tenth behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen, along with Carlos Sainz, exhibited improved race pace in warmer conditions on Sunday.
Although Red Bull and Verstappen remained unrivaled, Ferrari emerged as the second-best team of the day, surpassing the struggling Mercedes and Aston Martin, both of whom struggled to maintain their recent form.
Nonetheless, Leclerc remains cautious as the British Grand Prix at the high-downforce Silverstone looms ahead. This race will serve as the true test of whether Ferrari has truly made progress.
Leclerc stated, “This is our target, if not to perform even better. So yes, Silverstone is a very different track. It will be fascinating to see how we fare there because I still feel that the car’s weakness lies in the high-speed corners. And Silverstone has plenty of those. Therefore, it will be interesting to gauge the effectiveness of our new package.”
While teammate Sainz expressed dissatisfaction with Ferrari’s decision to double-stack him and Leclerc during the virtual safety car pit stops, instead of adopting different strategies, he acknowledged that the team’s race pace seemed much more consistent.
“Yeah, I had great pace today, especially with the medium tires,” Sainz commented when asked about the positives of his car’s performance. “I felt like we had a lot of speed. It’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t fully exploit it. But that’s how it goes. I believe a double podium was within reach today, considering the pace I had. I’m just frustrated. I’ve had good race pace in the car for a few races now. I wish I could make better use of it.”
Read Also:
Leclerc: Ferrari Must Keep Working to Catch Red Bull
Hamilton Struggles to Explain Surprising Mercedes F1 Performance in Austria
FIA Urges Red Bull Ring to Install Gravel Traps to Address Track Limits Issue
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about high-speed weakness
Q: What upgrades did Ferrari bring to the Red Bull Ring in Austria?
A: Ferrari introduced a revised floor and front wing as part of their incremental upgrade package for the race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
Q: What were the objectives of the upgrade?
A: The upgrade aimed to enhance aerodynamic load and make the SF23 car more stable. Additionally, it aimed to address issues with tire wear and inconsistency in race pace on high-downforce circuits.
Q: Did the upgrade have a positive impact on Ferrari’s performance?
A: Initially, the upgrade seemed to work as planned, with both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz showing improved race pace in the warmer conditions of the race. Ferrari emerged as the second-best team of the day, outperforming Mercedes and Aston Martin.
Q: What concerns does Charles Leclerc have for the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone?
A: Leclerc is cautious about the high-speed corners at Silverstone, as he feels that the car still has a weakness in handling such corners. The British Grand Prix will be a true test to determine if the new upgrade package can address this weakness.
Q: How did Carlos Sainz feel about Ferrari’s race pace?
A: Sainz expressed frustration at not being able to fully exploit the race pace of his car. He believed that a double podium finish was possible and expressed a desire to maximize the performance of the car in future races.
Q: Did Ferrari’s strategy improvements show progress?
A: While Ferrari’s strategy improvements were still a work in progress, there were positive signs in terms of race pace. However, Sainz’s dissatisfaction with the double stacking strategy during pit stops indicates that there is room for improvement in this aspect.
More about high-speed weakness
- Leclerc: Ferrari “still has a lot of work to do” to catch Red Bull
- Hamilton has “no answer” for surprising Mercedes F1 Austria struggles
- FIA wanted Red Bull Ring to install gravel traps to avoid track limits problem
5 comments
ferrari really need to fix that high-speed weakness, it’s holdin them back, u know? Silverstone gonna be a big test for ’em!
Sainz is frustrated, man. Wants to make better use of that race pace. Ferrari’s strategy still a work in progress, gotta iron out the kinks, ya know?
Upgrades sound promisin, hope they help ferrari gain more pace n stability. Leclerc got his eye on those high-speed corners at Silverstone, could be a game-changer!
Leclerc’s cautious, but the upgrades showin’ some promise. Gotta tackle those high-speed corners tho. Silverstone gonna be the real deal, fingers crossed!
Red Bull still untouchable, but Ferrari showin’ signs of improvement. Double podium could’ve been possible, what a shame! Can’t wait for the next race!