In 2024, Ferrari’s racing endeavors have been overshadowed by a persistent bouncing issue with their SF-24 cars, driven by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. This problem, which affects performance on medium and high-speed tracks, remains unsolved as the Hungarian Grand Prix approaches.
The bouncing problem plaguing Ferrari’s SF-24 has been a thorn in the side for both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz throughout 2024. Team Principal Fred Vasseur openly discussed the complexity of solving this issue, attributed to the limits of wind tunnel testing. ‘The Barcelona upgrade showed progress on paper and on the track,’ Vasseur noted. ‘Yet, the bouncing reappeared in certain fast corners, though not all.’
The dilemma is that the wind tunnel, a crucial tool for evaluating race car upgrades, falls short of replicating all race conditions, making it difficult to pinpoint the cause of bouncing. This issue doesn’t stand alone; it escalates into other problems, notably increasing tire temperatures, which subsequently affect performance. ‘We compared two different underbody specifications in Silverstone,’ Vasseur explained. ‘The goal is to identify and upgrade the parts that cause the bouncing without compromising lap time.’
From a driver’s perspective, Charles Leclerc has had to significantly alter his car’s setup post-Barcelona in a bid to navigate around the bouncing issues. ‘The turning point was Barcelona,’ Leclerc explained, noting the drastic measures he’s taken in setups to overcome the challenges, though these have come at a cost to results. ‘However, we’ve gained a deeper understanding of these issues, and I believe we will improve from here on out.’
Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz expressed optimism about the team’s development path following different strategies at Silverstone. The team is hopeful that these varied approaches will pave the way for future improvements. Both drivers are eager to mitigate the loss of races as they work towards solving the bouncing problem.
Ferrari’s journey through 2024 continues to be a challenging one. The bouncing issue with the SF-24 highlights the complexities and intricacies of Formula 1 racing, where even minor mechanical setbacks can ripple into broader performance problems. As the season progresses, Ferrari remains committed to finding a solution, with hopes pinned on future upgrades and strategic experimentation to overcome the hurdles faced on the track.
