Aston Martin and Ferrari have made significant changes to their Formula 1 cars before the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola this weekend. Red Bull, the current championship leader, has also made revisions to their car. The Aston Martin AMR24 has undergone several modifications as the team looks to improve their performance and move up the ranks as the fifth fastest team. These changes include updates to the front wing, nose, floor, fences, edge, rear diffuser, engine cover, and outer rear suspension fairings. These adjustments aim to improve airflow and provide more cooling options for the team. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin’s driver, expressed optimism about the changes but remained cautious about their impact on the team’s performance. He stated that the team has introduced new parts at every race this season and it remains to be seen if these upgrades will result in better lap times.
The much-discussed Ferrari upgrade package arrived just in time to impress the passionate fans at the Italian team’s home race. Ferrari implemented small changes both to the front and rear wing to improve the overall efficiency of these components. Additionally, Ferrari introduced a new P-shaped inlet on the sidepod and a device in the cockpit next to the halo to optimize airflow over the car. To complement these bodywork modifications, Ferrari also made adjustments to the floor edge and diffuser, aiming to improve aerodynamic efficiency and increase aerodynamic pressure. As a result of these extensive changes, Ferrari also redesigned the rear upper suspension arm fairing, hoping to take advantage of the increased aerodynamic load generated by the various upgrades. After simulations, Charles Leclerc commented: “Now we have to wait and see if we can translate the gains we observed in the simulator into reality, which I hope we can.”
Not wanting to be overshadowed by their rivals, current Formula 1 leaders Red Bull are determined to extend their advantage with a series of modifications to the RB20. The Milton Keynes-based team introduced a new front wing to generate additional downforce and made changes to the nose fairings to compensate for these changes. Additionally, Red Bull repositioned the front wing flaps and slightly lowered the upper surface of the floor to increase aerodynamic load. Furthermore, Red Bull focused on improving the cooling of the rear brakes by revising the rear wheel bodywork on the RB20.
