SF-23: analysis of 2023 failure according to Ferrari Head of Chassis Area

After the grand proclamations at the beginning of the year, the SF23 quickly proved to be a car not up to the level of yet another masterpiece produced by Red Bull, with the RB19, under the Wachè-Newey tandem, literally monopolizing the championship. In light of the unsuccessful season just passed, Enrico Cardile has explained how the SF23 project was created and why it failed to meet the high expectations that existed ahead of the start of the season.

SF23, Analysis of the 2023 Failure According to Enrico Cardile
“The 2023 car was an evolution of the 2022 model,” the engineer begins in an interview with German magazine Auto Motor Und Sport. “We tried to correct some of the weaknesses of the previous model. Overall, we achieved our goals.” – he pointed out.

“The car behaved on the track as we had developed it and as the simulations promised. Unfortunately, we soon realized that our development direction would soon reach its limits. From this point on, we tested the aerodynamic development goals and, step by step, redirected them in a different direction. A first result was seen at the Spanish Grand Prix with a new floor and new sidepods. A second step in the same areas followed at the Austrian Grand Prix.” – he continued.

For more than half the season, the SF23 has disappointed more than convinced. Apart from some sporadically positive weekends, such as in Baku, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have often had to look more in their mirrors than think about attacking the rivals ahead of them.

Enrico Cardile and his team thought they had taken the right direction at the beginning of the year. However, the limits of a project with little longevity soon emerged, especially in comparison with the RB19, which managed to evolve constantly throughout the season, then taking a break in the summer thanks to the enormous advantage accumulated.

“We reached the limits of the architecture of our car,” adds Enrico Cardile. “The existing chassis did not allow us to make some changes. For this reason, the car will be a reboot for 2024. We stick to the goal we set after the initial assessment. We had to realize that we could only achieve that goal with a completely new car.” – the Ferrari Head of Chassis Area concluded.

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Despite the 676 project seeming to be designed under the better prospects, caution is required, considering the grand proclamations at the beginning of the year. The 2024 Ferrari Formula 1 car will have the task of at least approaching the performance of the RB20, with the hope of closing the gap in progress and bringing home a few more victories than just the one in Singapore secured by Carlos Sainz this year.

Ferrari SF-23 garage