As we approach the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend, the first major update of the Ferrari Formula 1 season has been catching attention. However, numerous other notable packages are being tested in the first European stage of 2024.
Red Bull has made adjustments to their front wing, increasing the length of the third and fourth elements, as well as changing the geometry of the endplate. This modification is said to improve stability during cornering, resulting in better predictability when entering turns.
The floor edge wing underwent realignment of its vortex shedding edges, leading to an alleged increase in local load. Additionally, the floor preceding this device was slightly lowered to amplify its effectiveness.
In Miami, Red Bull introduced a package that includes new fence entries for the tunnel and changes in tunnel volume. These changes impact the airflow trajectory through the new fences.
A new biplane-shaped rear wing was implemented, aiming to increase efficiency. The front brake ducts were also redesigned to increase airflow speed, creating a greater pressure drop.
The SF-24 underwent a major overhaul, with the balance between cooling and aerodynamics being re-optimized around a new combination of sidepod and floor.
The most noticeable visual change is seen in the radiator inlet housing, which now features an upper lip similar to the RB20 model, replacing the traditional lower lip. The vertical inlet now connects with the horizontal below the lip, whereas before they were separate. The horizontal inlet is now shallower, and the vertical part is dedicated solely to cooling, as the S-duct arrangement with an outlet on the top of the sidepod has been removed.
These modifications allowed for a greater undercut at the front and an enhanced Coca-Cola bottle section at the rear. A twisted turning vane was added on top of the sidepod, near the cockpit, resembling an unraveling snake, to improve downstream flow.
Both the diffuser and floor edges were reshaped to take full advantage of the increased undercut. Adjustments were also made to the front and rear wings.
Following their major update in Miami, McLaren brought specific rear wings in biplane format for the Imola circuit. The goal is to improve overall efficiency by adjusting drag levels for their package.
Aston introduced a new front wing with a distinctive “V” shape that redistributes the load across the wing favorably.
Sauber extended the floor fences forward, resulting in an increase in downforce on the bottom of the car.
Haas will conduct consecutive tests of a redesigned front wing endplate during the Imola practices. The goal is to reduce front tire turbulence and redirect high-energy flow to the rear of the car. Haas also made changes to the upper rear suspension arm fairings and repositioned the layout of fins at the rear of the car.
No updates were declared by Red Bull.
