Right here we go. Ferrari is able to problem McLaren and Crimson Bull in spherical quantity 21 of the 2024 Formulation 1 championship. It’s set to be an thrilling battle on the 4.309-kilometre Autodromo Jose Carlos Tempo in Brazil, as the sphere is sort of shut and the brief Brazilian monitor additional narrows the hole between opponents. The Interlagos monitor is sort of complicated, with a winding structure and ranging elevations. The second sector is especially fascinating, that includes a number of difficult corners that have to be dealt with exactly all through the lap.
Discovering the proper steadiness between this part and the third, the place speeds are very excessive, gained’t be simple. To not point out Sector 1, which incorporates tough corners just like the “Senna S.” A vital issue to think about is the fifth Dash Race of the 2024 Formulation 1 season. Within the single hour of free apply, every workforce should skillfully fine-tune the setup of their F1 automotive, optimized by the simulator that makes use of driver-in-the-loop software program. We’re subsequently in for yet one more thrilling weekend.
As all the time, we are going to analyze the aerodynamic configurations chosen by the highest groups. We’re referring to the bundle every F1 workforce brings to the monitor to adapt their automotive to the course, on this case close to Sao Paulo. The Brazilian monitor, which has hosted the highest class of Motorsport since 1974, is 4.309 kilometers lengthy, and the lap file is 1:10.540, set by Finland’s Valtteri Bottas in a Mercedes W09. With out additional ado, let’s have a look at the F1 vehicles competing on the prime.
The primary focal point for us is in fact Ferrari and we are able to discover that the Maranello workforce chooses its setup for the Interlagos weekend following essentially the most rewarding technical path. For a lot of, Ferrari stays the favourite in Brazil, though on paper this isn’t the case and it stays to be seen if such a state of affairs can be confirmed on the monitor. The Prancing Horse has made a alternative just like Crimson Bull’s. In accordance with simulations completed by the Maranello technicians and engineers, adopting a medium-high downforce wing, just like the one seen on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona and at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico Metropolis, was the only option, particularly after the current suggestions from final weekend’s race. The setup of the SF-24 has been tailor-made particularly to maximise the automotive’s prime pace.
A parameter to which engineers usually dedicate nice consideration in setup, to the purpose that it has turn out to be a robust level for Ferrari. The expectation is to realize good dealing with within the pushed sections, the place aerodynamic effectiveness performs a vital function. It stays to be seen what compromise can be adopted by way of suspension and roll resistance to optimize the general steadiness of the SF-24. In any case, selecting medium-high downforce marks a distinction from Mexico Metropolis, the place the historic Italian workforce selected a lower-downforce strategy.
Now let’s transfer on to Crimson Bull. The Milton Keynes workforce has opted for a high-downforce wing, just like the one used final yr. This specification is designed to maximise areas of aerodynamic load with out sacrificing total automobile effectivity. The aim is to steadiness grip in tighter corners with sturdy straight-line efficiency. In 2023, the RB19 tended to sluggish barely on high-speed sections, although it maintained a stable benefit within the pushed sections the place aerodynamics are key.
The present setup goals to keep up this attribute, permitting for a superb steadiness between cornering efficiency and prime pace. On the whole, the world champion workforce opts for barely extra rear load, intending to maintain the rear steady throughout nook entry. We all know the Crimson Bull RB20 has proven a number of points with its fine-tuning. Though its aerodynamic effectivity is perhaps considerably much less efficient, Crimson Bull chooses this route as a result of with larger vertical load, the automotive performs considerably higher.
Mercedes, then again, is aiming for the “spoon” wing, characterised by a pronounced forefront and a decreased frontal space. This design is meant to generate barely much less downforce than its opponents, with the aim of enhancing prime pace. For Mercedes, enhancing prime speeds is a transparent precedence, contemplating that the workforce led by Toto Wolff struggled with this facet within the Brazilian Grand Prix final season. The configuration ought to permit them to raised deal with lengthy straights, counting on an aerodynamic profile optimized to scale back drag.