Ferrari SF23

[AR3-GP]

Very broken rear wing from Day 3

[jambuka]

Have a feeling they may just race this weekend with lower dw wing which they tested with.

[organic]

Yikes..the drs flap split?

[dialtone]

I thought everyone knew the wing broke.

That's why I commented that I wouldn't be surprised if the front wing was too flexible due to weight savings after the DRS flap broke and the vanity panel was bending.

[organic]

We had discussed it broke just didn't realize that's the manner it broke in.. I didn't watch all of day 3 morning and thought it had failed in a similar way to the RB drs failures of '21/22

[AR3-GP]

I also assumed the issue was with the "DRS mechanism" when it was reported on news websites.

They made light of the issue I didn't realize the whole wing snapped in half

[Sevach]

I thought they were "playing games" went out, tested the wing, took it out under some BS excuse to hide their real performance.

I stand corrected lol.

[Juzh]

It says it expires in a day, I can probably upload the 4k version on youtube although I'm scared of their video policing stuff.

you can upload all you want but in 95% of cases it'll be auto blocked within few minutes anyway, so it's not worth the effort. YT algo autodetects this stuff, no need to worry about any video policing stuff.

[Vanja #66]

No stone is left unturned searching for proper balance.

Ferrari increased SF-23 ride height in Bahrain test to limit bouncing – report

The SF-23, according to what we saw in the winter pre-season testing session at the Bahrain International Circuit, appears to be a car with enormous potential, but more difficult to unlock as compared to last year’s F1-75. Furthermore, especially in the morning sessions, we noticed a very bouncing and understeering car. These are factors that also contributed to the high tire wear seen on long runs.

Ferrari to use different rear suspension setting amid simulator grip levels | 2023 Bahrain GP

Ferrari has changed the approach to the season: in the race simulations the SF-23 has always run with a lot of fuel in the tank. So fuel was a constant, while the variables were ground clearance, suspension stiffness and aerodynamic adjustments. The SF-23 started the runs with at least 80 kg of fuel, also topping up between one stint and another.
***
In short, the Italian side hid a bit, looking with a certain stubbornness for the limits and problems of the SF-23. And at the end of perhaps overscrupulous work, some results emerged: for the first race weekend, a different adjustment of the rear suspension is needed. By acting on the mechanical part of the SF-23, the right path of development could be found.

If the change produces results, then we will see the team sticking to the most efficient aerodynamic configuration, while moving to the more loaded wing if the track’s response is not that of the simulations. Let’s therefore expect a Ferrari capable of having its say in qualifying (in tests the times were achieved with 35 kg of fuel!) and which will try to defend itself in the race pace to limit a gap that has not yet reduced.

All in all, exactly what was expected - team will need to re-learn its car and proper setup directions. It won't be surprising if first 3 races see a car 0.2-0.3s a lap slower than later, just on proper setup and driver confidence.

[jambuka]

It seems that at least they are trying to learn and setup car for race pace from this year.

[Cs98]

That doesn't have an impact on the drag limited straight line speed. Cars are basically punching against their drag limited terminal velocity at the end of the straight, regardless of how quickly they enter the straight (moreso the case in a place like Bahrain, Jeddah).

The 10km/h number factors in the lower drag RW. So it's not that insane.

Judging by the testing times most of the cars are 1-1,5 seconds faster than last year, with some teams like AM well over 2 seconds faster.

The source said 10km/h gained with the same load. It's very much insane. It's saying they haven't lost any downforce doing it.

Cars are 1.5 to 2 seconds quicker than last year, but a large part of that is coming from the new tires which Pirelli says are 1.5 seconds faster than last year which is a combination of the construction improvements and the reduction of the minimum tire pressures.

In that we are only discussing straight line speed, not cornering grip, then gaining 10km/h with the same amount of downforce is insanely good numbers. It's frightening.

"Same load" is not "same wing". They've obviously found gains elsewhere meaning they can unload the wing, shed drag, whilst still maintaining the same overall load on the car. The car will most certainly not be 10kph faster on the straights when they bolt on a similar rear wing to what they used last year.

And your 1,5 seconds of tyre performance seems like a massive overestimation.

[AR3-GP]

The 10km/h number factors in the lower drag RW. So it's not that insane.

Judging by the testing times most of the cars are 1-1,5 seconds faster than last year, with some teams like AM well over 2 seconds faster.

The source said 10km/h gained with the same load. It's very much insane. It's saying they haven't lost any downforce doing it.

Cars are 1.5 to 2 seconds quicker than last year, but a large part of that is coming from the new tires which Pirelli says are 1.5 seconds faster than last year which is a combination of the construction improvements and the reduction of the minimum tire pressures.

In that we are only discussing straight line speed, not cornering grip, then gaining 10km/h with the same amount of downforce is insanely good numbers. It's frightening.

"Same load" is not "same wing". They've obviously found gains elsewhere meaning they can unload the wing, shed drag, whilst still maintaining the same overall load on the car. The car will most certainly not be 10kph faster on the straights when they bolt on a similar rear wing to what they used last year.

And your 1,5 seconds of tyre performance seems like a massive overestimation.

The load I was referring to is the total car downforce, not the wing downforce.

[gordonthegun]

Comparison of the 2 RWs:

[FDD]

No stone is left unturned searching for proper balance.

Ferrari increased SF-23 ride height in Bahrain test to limit bouncing – report

The SF-23, according to what we saw in the winter pre-season testing session at the Bahrain International Circuit, appears to be a car with enormous potential, but more difficult to unlock as compared to last year’s F1-75. Furthermore, especially in the morning sessions, we noticed a very bouncing and understeering car. These are factors that also contributed to the high tire wear seen on long runs.

Ferrari to use different rear suspension setting amid simulator grip levels | 2023 Bahrain GP

Ferrari has changed the approach to the season: in the race simulations the SF-23 has always run with a lot of fuel in the tank. So fuel was a constant, while the variables were ground clearance, suspension stiffness and aerodynamic adjustments. The SF-23 started the runs with at least 80 kg of fuel, also topping up between one stint and another.
***
In short, the Italian side hid a bit, looking with a certain stubbornness for the limits and problems of the SF-23. And at the end of perhaps overscrupulous work, some results emerged: for the first race weekend, a different adjustment of the rear suspension is needed. By acting on the mechanical part of the SF-23, the right path of development could be found.

If the change produces results, then we will see the team sticking to the most efficient aerodynamic configuration, while moving to the more loaded wing if the track’s response is not that of the simulations. Let’s therefore expect a Ferrari capable of having its say in qualifying (in tests the times were achieved with 35 kg of fuel!) and which will try to defend itself in the race pace to limit a gap that has not yet reduced.

All in all, exactly what was expected - team will need to re-learn its car and proper setup directions. It won't be surprising if first 3 races see a car 0.2-0.3s a lap slower than later, just on proper setup and driver confidence.

If I understand right the problem is rather on mechanical/suspension side than on aero?

[LM10]

The 10km/h number factors in the lower drag RW. So it's not that insane.

Judging by the testing times most of the cars are 1-1,5 seconds faster than last year, with some teams like AM well over 2 seconds faster.

The source said 10km/h gained with the same load. It's very much insane. It's saying they haven't lost any downforce doing it.

Cars are 1.5 to 2 seconds quicker than last year, but a large part of that is coming from the new tires which Pirelli says are 1.5 seconds faster than last year which is a combination of the construction improvements and the reduction of the minimum tire pressures.

In that we are only discussing straight line speed, not cornering grip, then gaining 10km/h with the same amount of downforce is insanely good numbers. It's frightening.

"Same load" is not "same wing". They've obviously found gains elsewhere meaning they can unload the wing, shed drag, whilst still maintaining the same overall load on the car. The car will most certainly not be 10kph faster on the straights when they bolt on a similar rear wing to what they used last year.

And your 1,5 seconds of tyre performance seems like a massive overestimation.

Same load as in same overall downforce. It does not play a role which rear wing they manage this figure with.

Regarding tyre performance, it was Mario Isola himself saying that this year's tyres are about 1.5 seconds faster than last year's.