Ferrari F138 - Development and News

[tifosi1993]

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium (23/08/2013)

[tifosi1993]

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium (24/08/2013)

[shamim179]

So what new development parts did we bring today? It's puzzling that we were so competitive today. We were one of the fastest cars in various conditions. Or is it that we just have a better understanding of the tyres now? Anybody know? Ferrari are not saying why perhaps we have something new but keeping it a secret? Looking good for the rest of the season but you still need to make reasonable decisions even with a fast car.

[Samcar222]

Anyone have confirmation as to which RW we are running? Old Barca spec or the new thinner wing we brought? Looked like the latter from the tv shots.

[f1tomi8]

Anyone have confirmation as to which RW we are running? Old Barca spec or the new thinner wing we brought? Looked like the latter from the tv shots.

Barca spec RW.

[Jose Lorca]

Alonso: "the car was more competitive than in recent races. That’s partly down to the updates introduced here"

[radosav]

So what new development parts did we bring today? It's puzzling that we were so competitive today. We were one of the fastest cars in various conditions. Or is it that we just have a better understanding of the tyres now? Anybody know? Ferrari are not saying why perhaps we have something new but keeping it a secret? Looking good for the rest of the season but you still need to make reasonable decisions even with a fast car.

"We felt a little bit more competitive today than in the last qualifying sessions in July," Alonso said.

"We need to check in the next races - here is medium downforce, Monza will be also a unique circuit in terms of set-up. So here, Monza and Singapore will tell us how much progress we need."

He said that the progress with the car had come from Ferrari deciding to focus more on a stable, consistent aerodynamic performance rather than chasing the maximum potential downforce and creating instability in the car.

"All the new components that are arriving in the car are maybe not so obvious but there are some steps we have to do in terms of developing the car for more consistency," he said.

"In Silverstone [where he qualified an uncompetitive 10th] we understood that the peak of the performance in terms of the aerodynamics is nice to have but it is also nice to have a good and consistent downforce level throughout the corners, not only in one part of the corner.

"So we are working on that and the car seems little more consistent, more stable, easier to drive and you can complete the laps better.

"So there is not a revolution in aesthetics [the way the car looks] but the car is progressing well."

[mark p]

We often here about balancing driveability with ultimate downforce as the 2 are not always the same. does this sound like the rut ferrari found themselves in over past 5 races is not to do with correlation but pushing the boundaries too far in design. if so it will be another example of them squandering what is fundamentaly a really good car. This years car with last years team performance would be winning both titles but still 9 races to go and now a chance to make a good fight of it.

[radosav]

We often here about balancing driveability with ultimate downforce as the 2 are not always the same. does this sound like the rut ferrari found themselves in over past 5 races is not to do with correlation but pushing the boundaries too far in design. if so it will be another example of them squandering what is fundamentaly a really good car. This years car with last years team performance would be winning both titles but still 9 races to go and now a chance to make a good fight of it.

when i read that alonso interview i was so relieved , it gave me hope that team knows how to design a car , and no matter this year championship result , i am sure next year car has potential to be fast out of box ! How to judge team statements about corelation issues ? Team hasn't said much about their problems so we and newspapers around the world thought the worse! '' Ferrari can't build the car '' or '' If they build good car they ruin it at the end '' This year, as you said, team pushed design boundaries too far and lost car stability! From this we can see that there are '' corelation issues '' and there are '' corelation issues '' ! Those last one Ferrari had were caused by pushing too hard !
Go Ferrari!

[mark p]

when i read that alonso interview i was so relieved , it gave me hope that team knows how to design a car , and no matter this year championship result , i am sure next year car has potential to be fast out of box ! How to judge team statements about corelation issues ? Team hasn't said much about their problems so we and newspapers around the world thought the worse! '' Ferrari can't build the car '' or '' If they build good car they ruin it at the end '' This year, as you said, team pushed design boundaries too far and lost car stability! From this we can see that there are '' corelation issues '' and there are '' corelation issues '' ! Those last one Ferrari had were caused by pushing too hard !
Go Ferrari!

Indeed Lotus can build a great car and upgrades work but they are still messing about with their device so when pushing the limits things like correlation are harder to control. if ferrari were the ones with the device correlation issues would be the major headline. the rb has visually changed little through the year nor merc so maybe fine tuning is whats needed not large visual changes.

[Rob]

Ferrari F138 - revised front wing flap 24 August 2013

Instead of using an updated version of the radical front wing introduced in Canada, Ferrari have simply cut the second flap on the front wing introduced in Hungary. This reduces the level of downforce making it appropriate

[tpe]

So, according to FA, F138 did have some updates, but not visible ones. That's fine with me, but they need to speed up the development and catch RB.

[Forzi]

So, according to FA, F138 did have some updates, but not visible ones. That's fine with me, but they need to speed up the development and catch RB.

Still having a hard time accepting it. Everything on the car that wasn't seen earlier was just Spa spec parts. We weren't good in S2, which shows that our aero ain't good either. The track suited us, we won most of the time in S1. Somewhat getting the feeling that Fernando said it, to just lay off some pressure on the team from the press and fans. Monza will be even more beneficial to our car, and we'll be even faster, sure of it. But what's then? Afterwards it's gonna be aero tracks and if we won't have anything good on the car, we'll fall back to the 4th best car.

[Jas]

im pretty sure the step in performance was mostly to do with track characteristic....Lotus brining long wheel based car to Monza, but after that, ultimate dominance by Red Bull like last year I think, lets just enjoy the racing whilst it lasts!

[FerrariF60]

Well I think I read or heard something saying that Ferrari is working on an upgrade package for Singapore that’s supposed to generate more down force as well as better mechanical grip (something we seem to LACK this year). If that is the case and if the package will work, we may have a chance at doing well Singapore as well.

But as far as the other tracks that are more AERO dependant, don’t know exactly how the F138 is gonna fit/perform.

But hey, we’ll take it one race at the time…hopefully Pettel will have another DNF or two….and with a bit of luck, we may have a chance at the WDC….although Red Fools I have to admit are looking pretty DOMINANT at the moment…we just have to or Ferrari just has to give Nando a car with same speed or close to Red Fools or at least capable of qualifying on P2 or P3 at worse…I think the FERNANDO can do and WILL do the rest.

[wisepie]

Long range weather forecasts aren't reliable but at present it looks possible that Monza might be wet, so all the talk of the circuit suiting the F138 may become irrelevant. Hope I'm wrong, but destiny isn't being kind to us this season.

[PURE PASSION]

I'm not yet concern about our lack of downforce because as i remember on FP2 we where the fastest on S2!!!
Maybe it was a change in set-up!!! I recognize that right know RBR seems to be at least one step ahead of us but i'm quite confident that we have found our path and things gonna be a lot better for us in the coming races!!!!!!!!

[Forzi]

I'm not yet concern about our lack of downforce because as i remember on FP2 we where the fastest on S2!!!
Maybe it was a change in set-up!!! I recognize that right know RBR seems to be at least one step ahead of us but i'm quite confident that we have found our path and things gonna be a lot better for us in the coming races!!!!!!!!

Been watching the FP too, constantly looking at the times. Noticed the S2 thing also, but then we sucked in S1. Fernando was the one experimenting with it, going in pits, staying for over 10 mins, after being good in S1, then going out and being good in S2 but not so good in S1 and then changing back to S1 again. Rather sure we were playing around, deciding if we'd invest in downforce and win time in S2, or invest in straight line speed and win in S1.

Can only hope that what Fernando said was true, not just a "no panic" press release.

[Senna4Ever]

... but destiny isn't being kind to us this season.

only this season?
I would say: more likely since 2008

[mirafiori]

Long range weather forecasts aren't reliable but at present it looks possible that Monza might be wet, so all the talk of the circuit suiting the F138 may become irrelevant. Hope I'm wrong, but destiny isn't being kind to us this season.

Long time to go before forecasts for Monza can be considered, hopefully it will be dry. Wisepie are you going to the Monza grand prix?

[Jose Lorca]

Button: "I think Fernando's the one to look at to challenge Sebastian. He seems happy with the car and they're making progress. I think Ferrari will be strong at Monza [the next race on 8 September] and have a very good chance of winning there. They're stronger now than this time last year and could do very well. The championship's not over."

Button

[FerrariF60]

Button: "I think Fernando's the one to look at to challenge Sebastian. He seems happy with the car and they're making progress. I think Ferrari will be strong at Monza [the next race on 8 September] and have a very good chance of winning there. They're stronger now than this time last year and could do very well. The championship's not over."

Button

button is not a worry....LOL
joking aside, i too think Ferrari are making progress and will have a really strong car in Monza capable of winning
question IS, how much have they improved it long term progress, at tracks that are more AERO demending as well as where mechanical grip and more downforce is needed, like singapore

guess ONLY TIME WILL TELL

[Nova]

Theres a good article about rear wings and downforce, f1technical.net which you all know the site..
The article basically gets into the difference in the RB rear wing and Ferrari's, the ones they used at Spa.
They think the RB is generating much more downforce than anyone due to their floor/diffusser, which enables them to run
a small rear wing, the same front wing, thats right, the same front, and still maintain a high level of downforce.
Its an interesting read. Ferrari no doubt knows this. Since the conversation is about DF, thought Id throw that in.
I hope Ferrari can do some updates in this direction.

[stefa]

Due to high speed characteristic of Monza track F138 will be competitive, will it win... Hard to tell. Races after Monza will show how good is Red Bull Car, and how far of the race pace is F138 compared to them.

[Nova]

Stefa, u arent really very positive are you? Every one of your posts has a negative tone to it.
Those remarks do get a bit tiresome.

[Nero Horse]

Stefa, u arent really very positive are you? Every one of your posts has a negative tone to it.
Those remarks do get a bit tiresome.

Yep, agreed. I've tried to tell him the same thing many times but he just keeps on going the same way, so don't even bother. Some people just love to be negative all the time.

[Hornet]

Sensitive much are we

Stefa, u arent really very positive are you? Every one of your posts has a negative tone to it.
Those remarks do get a bit tiresome.

Not sure what's wrong with his remark. He's right, the true pace of the car will only be reveal in Singapore, which is more representative of the requirement of the remaining track, which we mush win if we are to continue fighting for the title.

As for Monza, Ferrari win in Monza is not set in stone. As you said yourself, Red Bull have better downforce due to their blown diffuser, this allows them to run low drag rear wing. In Monza, this is crucial because sector 3 requires downforce, don't forget that. Red Bull can run a lower drag rear wing than any other team thanks to their diffuser performance. Ferrari will still need some downforce for sector 3.

[stefa]

Stefa, u arent really very positive are you? Every one of your posts has a negative tone to it.
Those remarks do get a bit tiresome.

Once again. I am not negative. I am just being plain realistic about Ferrari chances. With my 30+ years of watching experience of F1, I know that thing does not turn here like in soccer match in 90+ minute very often. Last time I remember it was back in 2007, when McLaren handed over title to us. Yes we've been good all season, but mainly due to their mistakes KR won WDC.
So, once again I prefer to be optimistic and realistic, some of you guys look at that as being negative, but I prefer not to lie to my self about chances!
And, most than everything I would like to be proven wrong from Ferrari!

[stefa]

Yep, agreed. I've tried to tell him the same thing many times but he just keeps on going the same way, so don't even bother. Some people just love to be negative all the time.

Nova, no one loves to be negative!
Most of all I like joy and fun in life. And I really enjoy in F1 racing when Ferrari is competitive!

[Nero Horse]

Nova, no one loves to be negative!
Most of all I like joy and fun in life. And I really enjoy in F1 racing when Ferrari is competitive!

Couldn't hurt to put a few positive and uplifting comments on here once in a while now could it?
We all know that things aren't going in the best possible way for Ferrari, but the last thing what is needed is more negativity.