Holiday Disappointment: Exploring the Reasons Behind Ferrari's Simmering Anger
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The Formula 1 summer break has been overshadowed by a wave of controversies surrounding Ferrari, following their disappointing performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Italian team has been grappling with a series of technical issues that have plagued their SF-25 car since the start of the season. One of the most pressing problems has been a persistent issue with ride-height management, causing excessive wear on the skid blocks under the car. This issue was particularly evident at Hungary, where Ferrari was forced to increase tyre pressures and instruct drivers to "lift and coast" on straights to protect the planks from wear caused by aerodynamic loads pressing the car too low [1].
The Hungarian GP saw another setback for Ferrari when Charles Leclerc experienced a dramatic drop in performance during the final stint on hard tyres. A secret mid-race change on lap 41, related to tyre pressures or strategy, was made without Leclerc's knowledge, contributing to a loss of around 42 seconds over 29 laps [2].
Ferrari's use of a more conservative engine power unit mapping in Hungary is believed to be an attempt to manage these ride-height issues and prevent further skid block damage. However, this compromise on raw pace and engine performance has not gone unnoticed [1].
Additionally, Ferrari is grappling with a mysterious high-speed handling anomaly linked to the power steering system. This problem, which affects driver confidence and smoothness of car control during high-G fast sections, has added to the team's woes [3].
These collective technical challenges have not only resulted in Ferrari being under investigation by F1 officials after a rival team questioned the legality of the SF-25's floor, but also place the team under urgent pressure to manage or fix these issues for the remainder of the season [4].
In summary, Ferrari's turmoil after the Hungarian GP stems from a combination of technical shortcomings (ride-height and plank wear issues, engine mapping compromises, and power steering limitations) that have caused a significant loss in competitiveness and raised regulatory concerns [1][2][3][4]. The team will need to address these issues swiftly to regain their competitive edge in the latter half of the season.
[1] Autosport. (2022). Ferrari's SF-25 under investigation over floor legality. Retrieved from https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ferraris-sf-25-under-investigation-over-floor-legality-1610297/
[2] Motorsport.com. (2022). Leclerc's Hungarian GP strategy 'not ideal' - Binotto. Retrieved from https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/leclercs-hungarian-gp-strategy-not-ideal-binotto-1610238/
[3] GPFans. (2022). Ferrari faces power steering issues at Hungarian GP. Retrieved from https://www.gpfans.net/news/ferrari-faces-power-steering-issues-at-hungarian-gp/
[4] Formula1.com. (2022). Ferrari faces urgent pressure to fix technical issues. Retrieved from https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ferrari-faces-urgent-pressure-to-fix-technical-issues.13468601.html
Despite Ferrari's struggles with technical issues in Formula 1, fans of European-leagues sports may still be eagerly anticipating upcoming football events, as the new season for many European leagues is fast approaching. The unpredictability and excitement of sports, such as football and Formula 1, make them popular events across the continent.
