Ferrari's low downforce- what's the cause?
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What is the cause? In my opinion it’s a mix between a very conservative car, and the push rod suspension. what about you guys?
Last race I’d say they had the second most downforce of the field. Rest of the races however I think it’s largely to do with the off-throttle blown diffuser. Last race they had updates though so maybe they have just gained.
It’s a non question, I’m not sure what you mean by low downforce, do you mean lacking? if so, I don’t think they are any more, maybe at the start of the season compared to Redbull, but not any of the other teams.
I think the push-rod suspension is why they are slightly easier on the tyres compared to most other teams and it is probably why they tend to take a lap longer to get up to full tyre temp. But it isn’t a lack of downforce (any more anyway).
Yeah, the push-rod is easier on the tyres, but why have Ferrari said that tyre wear is a very weak point on their car?
You could put it down to a conservative design. One that, by playing it safe, was strong in the early stages before the more daring teams optimised their more radical designs, like McLaren for instance.
There is a fun little theory of mine which says teams like Red Bull, McLaren and Renault are hitting a brick wall with their designs and the development is now tweaking and bringing in new wings. But Ferrari, more of a blank canvas, is easier to bolt new parts onto and make radical changes in direction in terms of R&D development. Informed? Hardly. Any evidence? Not at all. But you know, it’s fun to speculate :)
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