Simone Resta back to Ferrari but not for the Formula One team, only GT department. Seems like Vasseur doesn’t need him in his future organization. Loic Serra coming from Mercedes will be key for this new organization until the end of this year. He’s Pierre Waché good friend and Vasseur is trying to create a strong French high level engineers pool for the future. Looks like Waché is one of its main target. Without success until now ( regarding Waché at least)
I'm curious, in a fantasy world, from a technical standpoint, if Adrian Newey was in charge of the design of the Ferrari car, what would he do differently? I'm not talking about team management or moving the team to the UK, I'm just wondering if anyone knows what technical things would he do to make the Ferrari car perform better? Newey cars seem to perform better because all the systems, engine, aero, suspension, tires, all work well together in just about all scenarios. Why can't Ferrari do that too?
Newey is working part time now for the Formula One team. Of course he’s supervising the main technical choices but it looks like Waché is the real technical director for the team right now. Truth is Horner deserves a big applause for building such an efficient team with all the departments working together. This is not about Newey only.
Ok. But from a technical standpoint, the RB cars are far and away superior than everything out there. Granted, their dominance isn't as dramatic in qualifying. But it seems they perform brilliantly, way better than all the other cars. I assume it's because the aero+chassis+engine+suspension all work extremely well together. But maybe I'm missing something.
You are absolutely right. Their power unit is also a strong point now with perfect reliability and strong hybridization. Horner gave the perfect tools. Newey writes the score and all the high-level musicians plays together without a false note.
The best understanding of the current aero formula on ground effect. Aero is balance and efficiency to take advantage of the PU's output. Reliable and works well at most all tracks minus Singapore this year and that was down to setup choices RB made. He simply understood the lessons of the F1 past with respect to ground effect.
Very interesting interview from a former and famous Ferrari motorist ( 40 years in Ferrari) In Italian ( translation available) About a lot of subjects ( Schumacher, Newey etc ..) https://www.formula1.it/news/18002/1/esclusiva-modesto-menabue-racconta-i-suoi-40-anni-in-ferrari-piloti-mondiali-persi
Words in Italy saying Vasseur clearly decided ( with owners approval) that Charles would be their number one driver for the coming years. Because of this Sainz new contrat is far from being signed right now. They are discussing with others drivers ..
Thats counter to anything Vasseur has had published on record. He has been rather adamant there would be no #1 or games with team orders. That report very much sounds like posturing by others not at all in the team. Sainz contract and Charles have not been signed at all and there is no schedule to have them signed yet. Team contracts are done rather quietly vs the rumor press negotiations we are always seeing/hearing. The last rumor was Dec 3-5 via the rumor press lol. Still no signing and they are not out of contract until end of 2024. Not sensing any urgency at all with anyone I know and communicate with. This is the last 'credible' press source report and that was just before Christmas 21 DEC: --Both drivers have deals in place until the end of 2024 but amid summer speculation that Sainz was facing pressure to keep his seat, Vasseur had said the team hoped to sort the paperwork come the end of this year. Given the lack of confirmation as the weeks have gone on, more recent rumours spread that Leclerc had signed a bumper five-year deal that could take his annual salary up to €50 million. But Vasseur says the “big chaos” surrounding a “very demanding” end of the 2023 campaign meant driver negotiations were ultimately put on the backburner and an official decision is due soon. Speaking at a media event in Maranello, he said: “They are under contract with us until the end of 2024. It means that we have still 13 months in front of us. “It's quite comfortable. We have still a lot of weeks and months in front of us.--
Yep the press reports unreliable, some of the reports ref the car being 6kg and the gain per lap are impressive one article quoted the 6kg was worth 1.5s a lap!
Ferrari hint at different concept to Mercedes W15 in race to catch Red Bull https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-f1-2024-concept-mercedes-w15-red-bull
I'll never forget the launch of the 2003 GA! They simply presented the 2002 car with all the pomp and excitement they could generate. The press went berserk saying Ferrari were falling into their old ways, resting on their laurels, thinking that would get them by. When they showed up at the first test session, remember those?, everyone was in awe! First, it was a completely different car. Second the out of box performance was outstanding and it held together. Those were the days!
Rory Byrne has been bought in to watch over the car development. Sad fact is with all the rule changes, Budget caps restrictions it is now almost imposable for an F1 Team to past the current top team. F1 has effective killed itself racing. The New WEC has taken off and so is the new GT3 F1 needs major changes or its totally doomed.
I ran into him in the Montana restaurant in Maranello in (IIRC) February 2019, he could not have been nicer.
As long as I admire Byrne for what he achieved with the team, I am not so sure someone who really left since 15 years is a valuable asset in this era… Maybe sort of historical legacy for new engineers ?
I'm aware of Byrne's age and the fact that he played a large role in designing the 2022 car, which is enough for me.
