Ferrari SF-26

[gordonthegun]

The new floor. Only the bargeboards are visible:

[atanatizante]

"Ferrari's Barcelona package introduces the full configuration of the winter-optimized front wing with extensive modifications for moving flap flows, alongside the year's third floor specification featuring multi-area revisions.
It includes Tondi's team's FTM refinements and minor bodywork tweaks mirroring Mercedes' silhouette.
Additionally, Leclerc will run a critical brake test to solve recent issues." @Auto_Racer_it

The Italian media are also reporting a new and more refined update for the Macarena wing, as well as a new mechanism for the front active wing, as can be seen in these two photos:

[gordonthegun]

[f1316]

It’s underpowered not draggy

That is also my understanding (and, even if the contention is that the FTM takes away some power, that’s not the same as drag).

But that’s what he’s said several times and I tend to think he’s reasonably reliable, so just curious.

Norris explicitly said, Ferrari choose a more draggy solution (overall) for their cars, for more downforce.
This was surprising, as Norris and Mclaren has the least reason to be political about this or to lie, at this point.
I tend to give this high trust scores
I just wonder in which area did they do this, as it is not obvious. Do they simply run bigger wings? What are your opinions?

I don’t know about the cause but Straight line mode and Macarena updates (mentioned above) could be part of the solution.

I still wonder if what Norris (who, as a driver, may not always use the right technical language) means is that Ferrari chose to do things like FTM that reduce power - and therefore limit straight line speed - and he’s referring to that as “draggy” when it’s really a different thing but with basically the same effect (in theory).

Fwiw: for ages I kept thinking that the RB Macarena was more efficient because the slot gap was bigger - I don’t know why but it took me ages to realise that the gap between the two elements is not really what’s important, it’s the profile (irrespective of how close together they are). Everyone else probably already knew that but I was having F1 commentator derangement syndrome

[Just_a_fan]

It’s underpowered not draggy

That is also my understanding (and, even if the contention is that the FTM takes away some power, that’s not the same as drag).

But that’s what he’s said several times and I tend to think he’s reasonably reliable, so just curious.

Norris explicitly said, Ferrari choose a more draggy solution (overall) for their cars, for more downforce.
This was surprising, as Norris and Mclaren has the least reason to be political about this or to lie, at this point.
I tend to give this high trust scores
I just wonder in which area did they do this, as it is not obvious. Do they simply run bigger wings? What are your opinions?

Would that be the McLaren that uses the Mercedes powertrain. No reason to cast shade elsewhere, eh?

[Luscion]

Barcelona upgrades

[Fakepivot]

why did they increase the side pod size?

[Owen.C93]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HKnK90iXsAE ... ?name=orig

why did they increase the side pod size?

Probably developed in conjunction with the floor update and it manipulates the front wheel wake together with the floor board to rebalance the front floor pressurisation.

[Luscion]

https://x.com/RosarioGiuliana/status/20 ... 1285871820

[venkyhere]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HKnK90iXsAE ... ?name=orig

why did they increase the side pod size?

From a non-aerodynamicist's perspective :
'mimicking Mercedes' sidepod shape to a large extent'