Tifosi pain to go on? Ferrari upgrades for Azerbaijan GP won’t fix the main issues of the SF-23

Ferrari will bring the major planned updates at the Emilia Romagna GP at Imola instead of the Azerbaijan GP.

Tifosi pain to go on? Ferrari upgrades for Azerbaijan GP won’t fix the main issues of the SF-23

Charles Leclerc driving the Ferrari SF-23 at the Australian GP

Scuderia Ferrari has failed to maximize the potential of its 2023 F1 challenger so far. The Italian has accepted that it needs big upgrades to extract the most out of the car as the team struggles to match the pace of even Aston Martin and Mercedes, let alone Red Bull. Team Principal Fred Vasseur had declared that the Scuderia would bring upgrades for the Azerbaijan GP. However, the team will have to wait until Imola before the real changes kick in.

As per reports, the upgrade package for the Baku race will not address the underlying issues of the SF-23 that have hampered Ferrari’s season so far. Maranello has laid down a development path that will see the major upgrades arrive at the Emilia Romagna GP. A significant part of the plans is a revised rear suspension that will allow greater control to the Italian team in adjusting the ride height of its cars and provide a more dynamic balance to the car.

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These upgrades aim to increase the aerodynamic efficiency of the car in this new era of ground effect. The Miami GP is another important race in the development plan, with major emphasis on the front wing of the car. Following this, the Spanish GP will finally bring an end to this upgrade streak. Ferrari finally carries new side pods that bring the Scuderia more in line with Adrian Newey-designed Red Bull RB-19.

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What this means for the Azerbaijan GP

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The unique side pods of the Ferrari are likely to go away

Ferrari Team boss Fred Vasseur was satisfied with the team’s pace at the Australian GP. The 54-year-old urged that Maranello must keep up with its development pace to get back to winning ways. Vasseur’s team will not bring massive changes for the Azerbaijan GP due to the F1 Sprint that weekend. However, the Frenchman is optimistic about the team’s prospects.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have had a frustrating season, with both drivers eager to turn the tide. Leclerc’s main objective would be to finish a race without issues after the Monegasque driver suffered two DNFs in three races. On the other hand, Sainz looks to make a comeback after a disappointing race in Australia when the Spanish driver lost out on a podium due to a late time penalty.

Thus, the Tifosi will have to wait for some time before Ferrari can finally show some big improvements. The Italian team has a massive overhaul of the SF-23 that will make its way gradually as per the team’s plan. Until then, Maranello will try to salvage the most out of the upcoming Baku Sprint weekend as Ferrari tries to get its first podium of the season.

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