Ferrari Seeks Perfect Setup in Three-Hour Practice Run

Ferrari’s upgrades show potential, but Vasseur stresses the need for optimal settings during a crucial three-hour practice.

A weakened Scuderia Ferrari arrives at Silverstone this weekend for the British Grand Prix.

The team was only the fourth strongest on the grid at the Red Bull Ring last weekend. While it’s not a crisis, it’s certainly not all smooth sailing in Maranello either.

Several questions arise. Will Frédéric Vasseur concede that the situation at Ferrari is rather worrying? Are the enhancements made in Barcelona truly satisfactory? Or is it merely wishful thinking?

The head of Scuderia maintains his stance: the upgrades are effective, now it’s just a matter of unlocking their full potential on the track this weekend.

“With the Italian Grand Prix, the British event is the longest-standing on the calendar. Silverstone’s high-speed corners highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the cars—it’s where the best drivers can make a difference.”

“I believe the upgrade package developed for the SF-24 by our engineers in Maranello is strong; it marks a step forward in aerodynamic support. Now, it’s up to us on the track to fully extract this potential and make the most of it.”

The three hours of free practice will therefore be crucial for Ferrari to finally find the right settings to unleash the potential of these enhancements. It’s high time!

“We’re returning to the standard format this weekend, meaning we have three hours of free practice to find a setup configuration that allows us to leverage the benefits the new parts should offer.”

“As I’ve said before, knowing how to optimally tune the car can actually have a more significant impact on lap times than the specific advantages of the new components.”

“We need to do a better job so that Charles and Carlos can qualify higher up the grid and compete at the front during the race.”

Bearman, the Ferrari driver, will compete for Haas F1 in EL1.

This weekend will see a third Ferrari driver on the track, though not in an SF-24.

Indeed, local contender Oliver Bearman will take part in EL1 driving for Haas F1, the team he is likely to join next year.

This marks the young driver’s third appearance in EL1, having delighted Scuderia fans by finishing 7th in Saudi Arabia, standing in for Carlos Sainz. The Scuderia Ferrari Academy driver had made a significant stride towards a permanent seat…

Racing at Silverstone, his home circuit, even in free practice, is obviously a thrill for Bearman.

“For us Brits, Silverstone is the quintessential circuit, both for its atmosphere and the fans who naturally support the British drivers but also because of the spectators in general, most of whom are genuine experts who appreciate motorsport and the skills of those behind the wheel, regardless of nationality. That said, putting all chauvinism aside, Silverstone is an extraordinary circuit with sections that are truly part of motorsport history. Driving through Copse, or Maggots and Becketts, is an indescribable feeling. Ask any driver, from Formula 1 to Formula 3, and you’ll find no one who doesn’t love Silverstone.”

Ferrari should therefore manage to secure a permanent seat for one of its Academy drivers next year. Nothing is signed yet, but Bearman is grateful to the ‘FDA’ for everything it has provided.

“The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy has helped me advance in terms of technical understanding and improving my physical condition. Being part of this programme has taught me things I could never have learned on my own. Last year, I had the chance to participate for the first time in an official Grand Prix test session, and I will never forget my first experience driving the 2021 car at Fiorano. This year, I became the team’s reserve driver, which has allowed me to work with team members and spend many hours in the simulator.”

Bearman is thus close to realizing his childhood dream: becoming a full-time F1 driver.

“At home, we’ve always lived and breathed motorsport because my grandfather raced in motorsports and my father did too, albeit at an amateur level. This means that by the age of three or four, I already knew the names of all the cars, whether racing or road cars. In fact, it was my grandfather who first took me to a karting track, renting a kart for me to try. I loved it so much that my parents bought me a kart for Christmas. Since then, I’ve never stopped driving and I still think it’s one of the best feelings in the world.”