The highlight of the Ferrari season was Lewis Hamilton’s signing. The Marenlo squad will give place to one of the most successful F1 drivers in 2025. Thus, the team needs to be ready to welcome the seven-time world champion. Further, the Italian squad is gearing up to improve the F1 prospect ahead of the historic transfer.
Although the team has yielded mixed results throughout this season, it has introduced some ambitious upgrades. Now, the team is ready to install more components to gain performance. Here is a brief technical analysis of the Ferrari team and its upcoming upgrades.
Ferrari Plans Return to “Previous Setup” in Pursuit of Performance Gains
Ferrari’s recent upgrades, introduced during the Italian Grand Prix, focus on optimizing the car’s floor—a critical component in Formula 1’s ground-effect cars. The modular floor allows individual sections to be updated without needing to replace the entire piece, which helps teams manage budgets effectively. At Monza, Ferrari overhauled several of these modules, introducing a revised floor design, sidepod changes, and mirror support adjustments.
The most significant upgrades involved refining the floor’s aerodynamics. New elements, such as altered floor fences and reshaped side pods, enhance airflow and boost downforce. The team also reintroduced some old concepts, notably from the 2022 season, to address porpoising issues—an aerodynamic instability caused by fluctuating downforce that can compromise the car’s performance.
By adopting simpler, more stable solutions, Ferrari aims to improve the balance and consistency of the SF-24’s aerodynamics. The SF-24 has already shown progress in Monza and Baku. Team principal Fred Vasseur highlighted the risks and rewards of this development, noting that pushing boundaries is essential, but every upgrade comes with challenges. Ultimately, these changes signal Ferrari’s intent to refine its car’s performance while preparing for the future, especially as it continues to improve before Lewis Hamilton’s expected arrival in 2025.
Ferrari Optimistic For Singapore, But Doubtful For Austin
Ferrari’s recent momentum, particularly in the last two races, has Fred Vasseur optimistic about their chances at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix. The track’s slow corners and chicanes could play to the strengths of the SF-24, making it a potentially strong weekend for the team. Vasseur emphasized the need to capitalize on these opportunities: “In these last two races plus Singapore, we must maximize points and take any chance we get to win.”
However, Vasseur remains cautious about fully evaluating Ferrari’s progress. He believes that a more traditional circuit, like Austin, will provide a clearer picture of their performance improvements. “We might have to wait for Austin, a more typical track, to understand if we’ve made the strides we were aiming for,” Vasseur stated.
The varied corner types at the Circuit of the Americas will be a perfect testing ground for Ferrari’s updated SF-24. Only after that race will the team better understand how they stack up against McLaren and Red Bull in terms of pure pace. In the meantime, Ferrari’s focus is on maximizing points in every race leading up to Austin.