What will the new Ferrari SF-23 be like? All the technical innovations: tomorrow the presentation – Corriere.it

The waiting full of expectations. The new Ferrari SF-23 will be presented in Maranello on Tuesday 14 February, on Valentine’s Day. The debut can also be followed in streaming starting at 11.25. Every Red is always important, but this is even more important having to chase – words of the new team principal Fred Vasseur in his inaugural speech – the two World Championships. The drivers’ one has been missing since 2007 (Kimi Raikkonen) and the constructors’ one since the following year. He will be on the track for the first time on Wednesday 15th at Fiorano, on a filming day: one of those days reserved for promotional films in which it is possible to cover 100 km and get the very first results. But the real debut will be in the Bahrain tests (February 23-25), on the same Sakhir circuit as the first GP (March 5).

Charles Leclerc in his fifth year with the Cavallino, finds a boss with whom he worked well in the youth series and in Alfa Romeo in 2018. in the ideal conditions to make the leap. As for Carlos Sainza driver capable of adapting, who in the past has already shown that he can withstand competition from very strong teammates (he began his F1 adventure in 2015 alongside Max Verstappen, at Toro Rosso).

Without compromises

But in addition to the men, this time the technical ingredients will count a lot, from what emerges they seem to be of the highest quality. The SF-23 was designed to make the definitive leap, it was born without compromises, or sacrifices, unlike the previous one. Which had as its objective the return to competitiveness: four victories in 2022, the initial ones (Bahrain and Australia) had the illusion of the possibility of holding up against Red Bull for the entire span of the season. Reliability limits, even more than strategic mistakes, conditioned last season. And also some precise choices: such as stopping updates very early, at the French GP in July, to concentrate on the current single-seater. Which is not only an evolution of 2022, but will introduce some technical innovations different from those of the other teams.

Binotto’s legacy

Vasseur inherits the SF-23 from Mattia Binotto, the single-seater was entirely built under the management of the engineer from Reggio, by the men he had placed at the top of the departments and that his successor was careful not to change. Rightly so, in this first phase. Why Vasseur not only received the turnkey car but also a whole series of developments planned until April-May. Beyond that date, therefore, the work of the former Alfa boss will begin to be seen, in terms of strategic decisions. The feeling that Ferrari can really start strong at the start of the season having fixed the defects that the F1-75 suffered from.

The engine

Beyond the inevitable aesthetic novelties, the most interesting part of the SF-23 is that which will not be seen. Starting with the engine: it derives from the Superfast unit, in Maranello they count on having resolved the reliability problems and this means being able to use full power, Vasseur himself admitted that the problems of the past should be under control. Which he would mean to have earned at least 20 horses.

The aerodynamics

The major changes should affect the cross-country skiing area, where there have also been regulatory changes. We will have to exploit the ground effect, some updates in that area had not produced the desired effects. An overall lightening should be noted, thanks to different construction and mass distribution criteria. But this season the search for the ideal weight will count less than 2022, all the teams are close to the weight limit of the regulation. While last year many were oversized.

The opponents

Red Bull are the favourites, without a doubt. Fifteen victories by Verstappen and two by Perez in 2022, the British have chosen the path of continuity. A few small and targeted changes, it remains to be understood how much the limit of hours in the wind tunnel will affect due to a breach of the budget cap. According to the opponents, less than a tenth per second per lap. As for Mercedes, growth is expected, but even the team itself is skeptical about the possibility of fighting for the World Championship.