Ferrari’s Strategy Shift in Singapore: Sainz Pinpoints SF-23’s Comprehensive Challenges Ahead of the Grand Prix

In a recent update, Carlos Sainz highlighted the SF-23’s performance issues and Ferrari’s strategy shift ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. Despite challenges, Sainz remains hopeful for an improved showing in the upcoming race, citing recent tactical changes.

Key Takeaways:

• Zandvoort Struggles: Ferrari’s experience at Zandvoort was a challenging one, with Sainz finishing fifth and Leclerc crashing in qualifying. These events revealed the SF-23’s balance issues and Ferrari’s performance gap compared to top teams.
• Strategic Changes for Singapore: Ferrari is set to employ a maximum downforce package in Singapore. This decision comes after learning valuable lessons from the past races and making necessary adjustments to enhance performance.
• Broader Car Performance Issues: Sainz stresses that the SF-23’s challenges extend beyond aerodynamics, pointing to more intrinsic characteristics of the car that affect its overall performance.

The upcoming Singapore Grand Prix stands as a crucial test for Ferrari and its SF-23 car. The team’s performance at Circuit Zandvoort, marked by struggles with car balance and an underperforming rear wing, led to a reconsideration of their strategy. Unlike Zandvoort, where Ferrari opted for a lower downforce setup, the Singapore street circuit’s demands have prompted a shift to a maximum downforce package, illustrating the team’s adaptability and willingness to learn from past races.

During the Dutch Grand Prix, Ferrari’s difficulties were starkly evident. Charles Leclerc’s qualifying crash and subsequent retirement from the race due to car damage, alongside Sainz’s fifth-place finish, painted a clear picture of the team’s struggles. Sainz candidly assessed Ferrari’s performance as below the leading pack, suggesting they were only the sixth or seventh fastest team.

Addressing the media, Sainz shared his insights, stating, “We did actually learn some very interesting stuff about how our car performs on that sort of track and what our high downforce wing is doing.” This learning curve is vital as Ferrari seeks to amend their fortunes in Singapore.

Sainz’s optimism for the upcoming race is palpable. He expressed hope for the changes implemented, “And hopefully for this weekend, we found a better solution than in Zandvoort and it can give us a bit more performance.” However, he also noted that the challenges were more complex than just aerodynamic adjustments, emphasizing the SF-23’s broader characteristics that impact its race performance.

As the Singapore Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on Ferrari and their ability to bounce back from previous setbacks. With Sainz at the helm, the team’s adaptability and strategic shifts will be put to the test in one of Formula 1’s most demanding circuits.