(Motorsport-Total.com) – Ferrari is opening a new chapter. The disappointment in Miami did not meet the expectations of the Scuderia, which had brought a comprehensive package of aerodynamic and mechanical updates to Florida, which together with the regulation changes should have enabled a significant performance leap.
Read more No hype for Madrid? Critical voices for the Formula 1 debut
The result, however, was that Mercedes, still without its own innovations, which will only come in Canada, took the fourth consecutive Grand Prix win in Florida, while McLaren and Red Bull also showed strong form.
Montreal thus becomes an important moment of the season, as the balance of power could become clear there before the summer, before there may be a (small) shake-up due to the changes allowed by the ADUO.
Mercedes is bringing an update to the track named after Gilles Villeneuve, which is supposed to be worth two to three tenths, so they should still be at the front. McLaren is also completing the remaining 40 percent of innovations to the package already started in Miami.
So what role will Ferrari play? They want to confirm themselves as the second force in the championship, even though McLaren is now only 16 points behind the Scuderia in the World Championship after a weak start to the season.
Does the update work better in Canada?
After Miami, Ferrari had two weeks to lick its wounds, because the data analysis was clear: The Ferrari seen in the USA could not exploit the potential of the numerous innovations distributed over the entire car.
None of the new parts were a failure, but the updates delivered significantly less than expected in simulations. Canada thus becomes a kind of retest.
Ferrari must show that it can withstand the attacks of the competition with their updates and that on a stop-and-go track like the one on Ile Notre-Dame, the potential of the SF-26 can be called up, which was only visible in phases in Miami.
The preparation for Montreal is said to have delivered contradictory results: very good in the curvy sections, with strong traction as a characteristic strength of the car when accelerating, but needing improvement on the straights due to the known difficulties with energy recovery.
The track in Canada allows an aerodynamically slim setup, provided there is sufficient downforce. Efficiency and an excellent braking system are crucial for performance.
Read more Just a Cadillac sticker? How the new GM team benefits
Can Ferrari compensate for the missing horsepower?
In Miami, Ferrari was outside the optimal working window of the tires, especially with the hard compound, and paid for some setup decisions that should have been revised for Canada based on recent experiences.
Montreal must therefore give a clear assessment of the aerodynamic package. The solutions approved by Loic Serra from the work of Diego Tondi and Franck Sanchez are supposed to compensate for the compromises made on the power unit, which were made in favor of aerodynamic efficiency.
The engine lacks 22 to 25 hp compared to Mercedes, and there are also objective difficulties with hybrid charging.
Formula 1 world champions who never drove for Ferrari
The blown exhaust in combination with the reverse wing, which should be particularly effective in Canada, as well as reduced radiator surfaces thanks to the revolutionary six-cylinder 067/6, which runs very hot, should compensate for the compromises made by Enrico Gualtieri’s engine department.
They hope not to experience a similar situation as in 2014, which ended in a fierce conflict between the chassis and engine departments over controversial decisions on the F14-T. However, it is clear: Montreal must show whether the chosen path was the right one.
Why fuel could play a role in Canada
Team principal Frederic Vasseur said at the start of the season that it was not crucial to have the best car at the first race, as the championship would be decided by further developments.
So Ferrari can check the actual effect of its update package in Canada. For the first time, there will be the sprint format there, so teams with innovations only have one practice session to find the right setup. If the Scuderia has worked well in the simulator, it could benefit from this.
Formula 1 Quiz
Which team has had to endure the most retirements in Formula 1?
Test yourself now in the Formula 1 quiz and compare yourself with other users
Another interesting aspect: Montreal, with its frequent strong acceleration phases, is a track with very high fuel consumption. It is not certain that those who use fuel to charge the battery more strongly will have the necessary “juice” during the race.
So far, this topic has not played a major role, but it will be exciting to see whether there will also be performance differences in fuel between the different combustion engines.
Read more After a horror start: How Honda wants to save Aston Martin