The Ferrari SF24: the new benchmark in the era of geographics.
Introduction. On the 13th of this month, Ferrari unveiled the Italian team's 70th chassis, the SF24, which marked a revolutionary breakthrough in Ferrari's F1 car design. The creation of the SF24 is not accidental, but the result of months and even years of careful development and testing. It's not just a race car, it's a model of Ferrari's commitment to innovation and technological breakthroughs.
Chassis design innovation.
The biggest feature of the SF24 is that it completely overturns the previous chassis design. First of all, Ferrari increased the wheelbase of the car to the maximum range allowed by the rules of three meters, a move that gave the car more stability and excellent handling. At the same time, Ferrari uses the shortest gearbox since 2014, which not only improves the overall balance of the car, but also effectively avoids the problem of rapid deterioration of the rear wheels, providing a solid guarantee for the car to continue to compete.
This revolution in chassis design is not just on paper, but has been the subject of extensive calculations, simulations and practical tests. Ferrari's engineers use advanced computer simulations and wind tunnel testing to continuously optimise the chassis structure to ensure that it maintains excellent aerodynamics at high speeds, increasing the car's speed and stability.
Monomer structure remodeling.
In addition to the innovation of chassis design, the SF24 also completely reinvents the most rational design of the ground effect race car by redesigning the monocoque structure and based on a new chassis architecture. Although the change in the monocoque structure is particularly noticeable in chassis with a maximum wheelbase, the position of the cockpit position in the chassis does not change, a design that not only retains the traditional characteristics of the car, but also provides a higher guarantee of stability and safety.
This redesign of the monocoque structure takes into account the performance needs of the race car while taking into account the comfort and safety of the driver. Engineers have carefully designed every detail to ensure that the car remains stable at high speeds without compromising the driver's handling and feel, providing the driver with the best possible driving experience.
Increased design freedom.
The advent of the SF24 not only made a breakthrough in chassis design, but also made significant progress in terms of design freedom. Based on the cockpit position, this year's SF24 has a higher front axle than the previous generation SF23, while the rear axle is also further back. In addition, the miniaturized gearbox provides greater design freedom at the rear of the car, allowing the team to increase the volume of the diffuser, increase the airflow throughput to enhance tail downforce, delay the degradation of the rear wheels, and make the center of downforce closer to the center of gravity of the car, resulting in a more stable balance and better handling.
This increased design freedom gives teams more options and possibilities. Engineers can adjust the car to varying degrees according to the characteristics of the track and weather conditions to maximize the performance of the car, so as to achieve better race results. This flexibility and adaptability is one of the strengths of the SF24 and an important tool for Scuderia Ferrari to compete in Formula 1.
Power unit upgrades.
In addition to a major breakthrough in chassis design and monocoque construction, the SF24 also received an upgrade to the power unit. In response to the need for improved reliability, Ferrari used the last power unit upgrade quota until 2026, and the upgraded 066 12 engine is one kilogram lighter than last year's 066 10 engine, which not only reduces the weight of the whole car, but also improves consistency and brings more flexible car tuning to the team for race weekends.
This upgrade of the power unit not only improves the performance and reliability of the car, but also provides strong support for the team to achieve better results on the field. The race of modern F1 cars has entered the era of hundredths of a second, and every slight improvement can be the difference between victory and defeat. As a result, Ferrari has put enough effort into upgrading the power unit to give the team a stronger backing to win every race.
Summary. Overall, the Ferrari SF24 is a completely new chassis architecture that not only satisfies both understeer and oversteer, but also offers more stability and handling than it can compete with competitors such as Red Bull. The launch of the SF24 marks a further enhancement of Ferrari's technical prowess and innovation in Formula 1, as well as a new chapter in the development of motorsport technology. With the SF24 in service, it is believed that Scuderia Ferrari will achieve even better results in future races and bring more exciting racing feasts to fans.