Ferrari adopts fresh rear wing strategy to narrow Red Bull’s DRS edge
The Aero Efficiency Advantage of Red Bull and Ferrari’s Pursuit
One of the key elements that propelled Red Bull to success last season was their exploitation of good aero efficiency, giving them an edge in straightline speed. Their advantage became even more pronounced when utilizing the Drag Reduction System (DRS), as they perfected the drag ratio between their mainplane and beam wing.
As other teams, such as McLaren, began to follow in Red Bull’s footsteps throughout 2023, it comes as no surprise that Ferrari has also joined the race for DRS gains with their new SF-24 car. Enrico Cardile, Technical Director at Ferrari revealed during the team’s launch event that significant efforts were made to enhance DRS performance on their new machine.
In response to whether Ferrari had focused on incorporating Red Bull’s approach to DRS technology, Cardile confirmed: “Yes, it is. A part of our development process for this car involved completely revamping the rear wing.”
The newly presented SF-24 showcased a distinct layout for its central pillar – resembling a swan neck design – extending over the mainplane and connecting to the DRS pod. Furthermore, Ferrari seems to have adopted an Alpine-style semi-detached tip section for improved aerodynamics; one of two approaches seen in this area throughout last season.
Despite aligning conceptually closer towards Red Bull overall with their latest car design changes, Cardile emphasized that Ferrari still retains its individuality: “We took our own direction without question. Last year we devoted considerable effort into understanding how driveability can shape our aerodynamic map; hence our direction remains unique.”
Finding Unique Targets
“While I cannot speak about where Red Bull may be headed or what targets they have set,” continued Cardile,” we consistently explore multiple options and choose the best path to achieve our own objectives.”
Cardile confirmed that the launch specification of their car would be used in Bahrain, with further updates following once they gain a better understanding of its characteristics: “I can only say that compared to the presented model, the car has progressed and evolved. We will determine when it is more suitable to introduce initial updates on track. The first step is assessing our competitiveness against other teams.”
The pursuit for improved aerodynamics continues in Formula 1 as Red Bull’s aero efficiency advantage inspires teams like Ferrari to make significant changes in this area. With each team striving to find their unique targets amidst shared pursuits, fans can anticipate an exciting battle for supremacy both on and off the track.