Matteo Togninalli, Ferrari’s chief racing engineer, summarized the results of three days of testing and spoke about the team’s preparation for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Question: How do you assess the results of the three-day tests?
Matteo Togninalli: During testing we focused on working with different versions of engine mapping and understanding the car, paying particular attention to the car’s performance during acceleration and race pace. The tire specifications are the same as last year, so less time was spent analyzing this aspect. The emphasis was mainly on the car.
Despite the loss of time due to problems with the circuit’s drainage system, we collected all the necessary data and drove the planned distance, which is very important when it comes to assessing reliability.
Of course, three days of testing are not enough to understand and optimize the new machine, but we got a first general idea. The data correlation between the simulator, the wind tunnel and the track is quite good, which is positive. On the track the car behaved the same as in the simulator, which allowed us to make comparisons with 2023 and understand how the car reacts to different settings changes.
It is very important for us to use different tools that help with machine optimization and future developments. The drivers commented that the car handled well and was stable in different conditions, which was one of our goals as it will help when it comes to race pace and tire handling.
Q: What results can you expect in the first race of the season, based on what you’ve seen in the testing?
Matteo Togninalli: It is difficult to estimate the true balance of power as the teams worked on their own programs and everyone had different tires and fuel loads. In addition, track conditions change significantly throughout the day due to changes in temperature and wind strength, which has a significant impact on lap times. This means that times shown at different times of the day cannot be compared.
Overall, I expect the balance of power will not be much different from what we saw at the end of 2023, when the defending champions and our other rivals showed good potential. At this stage it is difficult to estimate the balance of power, but I think the gap between the teams will be a few tenths.
Question: Is there a factor that could be decisive in Saturday’s race?
Matteo Togninalli: At the beginning of the season the most important thing is to understand the car and its reliability. At this stage the advantage will be given to the team that understands better than others how to get the most out of their car. This aspect will be leveled out as the season progresses and as the teams unlock the potential of their cars.
Reliability aspects improve as vehicles travel longer distances. This means that everyone is more vulnerable at the start of the season.
Changeable weather is also a factor in Bahrain as temperature and wind can have a noticeable effect on a car’s speed and balance, so the ability to adapt to changes will be fundamental.
During the race we expect high tire wear compared to the season average, so managing this will also be crucial for race pace.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
