Ferrari uncovers wind tunnel secrets for 2024 F1 car

Ferrari believes it has overcome the bouncing problems that plagued its 2024 Formula 1 car, with senior performance engineer Jock Clear acknowledging these challenges as an inherent part of the current ground-effect regulations.

The Maranello-based team's journey to stability began with a promising floor upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix.

However, this development unexpectedly triggered bouncing in high-speed corners, forcing Ferrari to revert to its previous specification for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Subsequent revisions to the underbody geometry for the Hungarian round marked a turning point, with the team showcasing renewed competitiveness in Baku, where Charles Leclerc secured pole position.

Wind tunnel anomalies

Clear shed light on the process of identifying and rectifying the team's issues, emphasizing the importance of resolving discrepancies between wind tunnel data and on-track performance.

"You're never fully confident - but I think it's a good picture of how the ebb and flow of everybody's development goes,"

Clear explained.

"When you see an anomaly, you have to get on top of it, try and understand it, and then get back on track."

He added,

"What you've seen since is that we've understood it, we got back on track, we just have to be eyes wide open for what the next anomaly will be, because there will be another one because that is the process at the moment."

Ground effect challenges

Clear highlighted the unique challenges posed by ground effect cars, particularly in accurately simulating dynamic conditions in the wind tunnel.

The critical factor, he noted, is the floor height and its significant impact on downforce output.

"Ever since we brought these ground effect cars back, it's presented challenges,"

Clear stated.

"When the car's a long way from the floor and the floor is not generating huge amounts of downforce based on its proximity to the floor, then the tunnel can be pretty accurate.

But as soon as you get into what's happening over a kerb, what's happening when you're bouncing, the tunnel can't do that."

Correlating data

The complexity of correlating wind tunnel data with on-track performance is further complicated by the peaky nature of ground effect aerodynamics. Clear explained,

"When it gets to zero, you lose all your downforce, And when it comes back up to five millimetres, you get loads of downforce and you get into this really peaky area on the floor. And everybody's challenged with that all the time."

Despite these hurdles, Ferrari remains optimistic about its development trajectory.

The team's recent performances, including a strong showing in Singapore before Carlos Sainz's Q3 crash, suggest that they are on the right path.