Ferrari's 2023 SF-23 updated version
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| photos third party reference |
Ferrari launched their brand new SF-23 on Tuesday and it looks like they've continued with last year's philosophy. Mark Hughes looks at why the Scuderia have focused on improving their design rather than overhauling it
Ferrari had enough cars to set 11 pole positions last year, two more than championship winners Red Bull. So it's perhaps not that surprising that the new SF-23 bears a very close resemblance to last year's car.
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| photos third party reference |
The biggest factor in last year's title challenge was power unit reliability. After the double retirement in Baku, PU ran in detuned form for the remainder of the season as the team undertook a lengthy project to further strengthen the ERS-H system.
That work has been completed over the winter and the belief is that the power unit can now be run more aggressively and safely than it was in the early part of last season, when it was the most powerful unit on the grid.
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| photos third party reference |
Ferrari must hope that this, in combination with the changes they have made to the chassis, will be enough to fight with Red Bull for longer than is the case in 2022.
2023 Ferrari car is an evolution -said Enrico Cardil
" 2023 Ferrari car is an evolution of the one we raced last year, but in fact, it has been completely redesigned," said Enrico Cardil, head of the chassis area, as he outlined the changes. "On the aerodynamic side, we have increased the vertical downforce to further adapt to the new aero regulations and achieve the desired balance characteristics. The suspension has been redesigned to support the aerodynamics and increase the range of adjustment in the car. Track
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| photos third party reference |
What is new changes in ferrari 2023 ?
"The most obvious changes are in the area of the front suspension where we've gone to a lower track road. The front wing is also different, as is the construction of the nose, while the bodywork is a more extreme version of what we saw last season."
It looks like a sleeker version of last year's Ferrari, with the front lower corner of the sidepods removed, which suggests that - like every other car launched so far - some of the radiator area has been moved out and raised around it. the shoulder of the car.
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| Photos third party reference |
It retains the 'bathtub' profile at the top of the sidepods, with sunken depressions aiding in the extraction of air and channeling it to the rear beam wing.
The cooling rearrangement did not involve simulating a Red Bull bodywork 'cannon' for the rear exhaust air exits. Instead, the bodywork where the engine cover and sidepod top merge behind the cockpit remains broadly beautiful.
The nose appeared slightly flattened out and the front wing with which the car was launched featured slot gap separators that were angled to form vortices, which would help accelerate airflow towards the floor inlets at the bottom of the sidepods.
Mercedes theoretically produced a wing similar to this last year and introduced it in Austin and Mexico, but the FIA declared it non-compliant as it found that the primary function of the slot gap separator in this case was not structural but aerodynamic.
It remains to be seen whether Ferrari's more nuanced interpretation of the same idea will be deemed acceptable.
So what do you think? Are you impressed by the SF-23? Did you feel Ferrari were too conservative, or have they done what was necessary to stay competitive whilst they develop a new car? If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below and I'll do my best to answer them.
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