Ferrari Senior Performance Engineering Director Jock Clear asserts that the team’s revised 2024 Formula 1 car is “not scaring” its drivers compared to its predecessor.
Having abandoned the inwash sidepod solution it had conceived at the beginning of the latest ground effect last term, Ferrari elected for a clean slate this season.
The Italian marque had outlined that its overhauled design scheme was intended to provide a more compliant car that eradicated previous wind-sensitive tendencies.
Charles Leclerc issued a positive assessment of Ferrari’s progress during winter testing and that has translated into the team being second fastest in the opening rounds.
Both Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz have registered third-place finishes, while debutant Oliver Bearman was able to slot in and secure seventh place in Jeddah.
Although Red Bull and Max Verstappen remain the benchmark, Ferrari is convinced that it now has a “consistent” base to build upon to reel in the dominant champions.
“Generally it’s just a bit chunkier with more chocolate on,” Clear remarked about Ferrari having a stronger recipe from which to develop compared to its predecessor.
“It goes quicker everywhere under all conditions; more downforce, more power, lighter, because that’s fundamental development. [In] all of those areas, the car is slightly improved.
“On drivability, we talked about this last year with the Ferrari and that’s a big step we’ve made over the winter.
“Both drivers are much more comfortable with how consistent the car is and how much more predictable and drivable it is, so that when you’re behind someone, when the wind conditions change, it’s not scaring them.”
Ferrari had highlighted that reducing tyre degradation was one specific area it had targeted with its revamped car and the nascent races have shown positive signs.
But although Clear concedes Ferrari can’t “hand on heart” claim it has rectified that long-standing limitation, he reckons the improvement can date back to last term.
“We think we understand the kind of things that allow you to improve your tyre degradation,” he explained.
“It was a criticism levelled at us maybe two years ago and at the beginning of last year, but I think we demonstrated last year by the time we got to Vegas, you were seeing that Charles was able to manage the tyres just as well as Max.
“So, I think it’s an area that we understand. And as such, we would be wholly expecting that we’re continuing in the right direction with that.
The ex-Mercedes engineer has outlined that Suzuka’s earlier slot on the roster this season will provide the teams with an accurate assessment of their package.
“The way that the calendar is this year, I think four races in we will have a pretty good idea because you’ve got Japan in there, which is a hell of a circuit to measure a car,” he added. “So, at that kind of circuit, you’re going to find out a lot.”
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