Ferrari have spent the first half of the season scratching their heads with regards to the SF21, at times it has proven to be fast but mostly it has been a lemon that neither Charles Leclerc nor Carlos Sainz can fully figure out.
After topping qualifying at Monaco and Baku, Paul Ricard was a reality check as neither cars were on the pace and their drivers departed pointless. What seemed like a good piece of kit around those tricky street circuits, was inept in France a week later.
Is there a more finicky car on the Formula 1 grid than the two red ones?
According to team boss Mattia Binotto, a thorough investigation pinpointed the problem to tyres not switching on predictably, making the Ferrari SF21 an awkward car to drive.
Binotto explained: “What happened in France, we had very high tyre wear on the front-left, graining and then a lot of wear. We tried back at Maranello to try and approach, in terms of homework, the exercise of, ‘do we have an issue on our car, in terms of concept’, which is as a consequence bringing it back to tyre wear.
“Because if we look at not only France but all the past races before that, on average compared to the entire grid, we were the ones that were wearing the most on the front. So it was not a single issue in France, but most of the races we were wearing a lot on the front.”
Simulator sessions and an intense inspection of the chassis shed light on the direction for the engineers to take as Binotto revealed: “I think what we found out is that in the end, it’s very simple... If you're wearing, it's because you are sliding, as simple as that.
"And if you are sliding, there are reasons why you may slide, and these reasons, it can be simple set-up. You may perfect the rear of the car in braking, have good rear stability but an understeering car.
“But we moved our set-up in the following races, tried to have more balance in terms of, let me say, understeer to oversteer, tried to slide less on the fronts and manage the tyres in that respect, and I think whatever steps we made in that direction have proved to be the right direction to cope with the tyre wear."
The performance found in the factory appears to have carried over to the track according to the Ferrari team boss: “As a matter of fact, in Austria and certainly in Britain, and following as well the situation in Hungary, we've shown that we've been able, in the last races, to have an improvement in terms of front tyre wear, and it doesn't seem to be as critical as it has been in France.”
Less outright one-lap pace was the trade-off for a more drivable car, said Binotto: "I think that we may have slightly compromised it but not much. I think it's for the drivers as well to adapt to a different type of set-up, which they are doing.
"I think it's ourselves who are learning a different type of balance to be used. But I think it's really race preparation as well, which has been very important for Silverstone. But it's a learning curve, that one as well, and obviously, that's a key element when you've got front tyre wear.
"But it doesn't mean that in all the circuits you need to review the way you're approaching your set-up," concluded Binotto whose team are tied third with McLaren in the standings ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.
Spa-Franorchamps will provide a stern test for Ferrari, as there will be nowhere to hide at the hallowed venue, where good and fast cars tend to do well or win, but a luxury that neither Leclerc nor teammate Sainz can count on.
What Ferrari will unleash itself in the Ardennes? Doctor Jekyll or Mr Hyde?
Latest News
Loading
