Formula One’s most famous team has not won a Grand Prix since 2019. Ferrari spent the last two years in recovery mode following a directive from the FIA – F1’s governing body – to address fuel flow measurement issues (as yet unspecified) which led to a significant drop in power from its V6 turbo-hybrid powerplant.
By Graham Duxbury
With two years of below-par performances now behind it, the Scuderia is looking forward to the all-new 2022 F1 rules and has been developing a new V6 internal combustion engine (ICE) for its ‘22 car as part of an ambitious project to address its obvious performance deficit and bounce back to winning ways.
One of the challenges facing Enrico Gualtieri, head of Ferrari’s unusually-named Power Unit Area, has been accommodating F1’s new fuel, mandated for 2022, which will contain 10% ethanol. It comes with an expected 20 horsepower loss which all teams will try to recover.
Consequently, Gualtieri has the put the spotlight on the combustion process in order to optimise the fuel and offset the deficit. This has resulted in a new cylinder head design – dubbed the “superfast” head – complemented by a redesigned piston crown. Both are aimed at achieving greater fuel atomisation and higher combustion chamber pressures.
Other mechanical advances for 2022 include modifications to the intercooler system, revised radiators to reduce aerodynamic drag and a new gearbox.
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto points to the high levels of innovation present in Ferrari’s 2022 design, particularly as far as the powerplant is concerned, saying that Ferrari has “pushed the boundaries” with the new car.
This is understandable, as all engine designs will be frozen later this season until F1’s new engine formula (whatever that may be) comes into force in 2026. It’s a long time to be lumbered with a dysfunctional ICE.
Perhaps surprisingly, Ferrari evaluated and decided not to follow Mercedes-Benz, Honda and now Renault down the “split turbo” design route, where the turbine and compressor are located at either end of the engine.
Ferrari had been working on two parallel turbo development programmes in order to determine the most beneficial. The decision is said to have been made based on hard facts – dynamometer results.
Ferrari will likely be the only engine manufacturer from 2022 onwards not to use a split-turbo engine.
As far as the electronic hybrid system is concerned, Ferrari’s 2021 upgrades, which are carried over to 2022, included a revised and smaller turbine in an attempt to improve battery charging via the associated energy recovery system.
This feature was designed in line with what Ferrari racing director Laurent Mekies describes as the team’s “2021 reconstruction with the 2022 rules in mind”.
Looking at chassis developments, Binotto says Ferrari concentrated on meeting a wide range of overall design objectives, not only to comply with the FIA’s new underbody aerodynamic rules but also to incorporate optimised component positioning. There is also a redesigned front suspension (pull-rod rather than the previous push-rod) within the scope of what he describes as a “full architecture”.
In order to place substantial emphasis on chassis design, Ferrari has revised its internal structure. Four key working areas or departments are identified within its chassis development programme which is headed by project manager Enrico Cardile. These are Vehicle Concepts, Chassis Performance Engineering, Chassis Projects Engineering and Vehicle Operations.
More recently – and again stressing the importance of the chassis – Ferrari has placed the Chassis Performance Engineering department under the umbrella of the Race Track Engineering unit.
According to reports, Ferrari has acknowledged four culture-related objectives or “pillars” to help it achieve its 2022 goals. These are “innovation”; “viewing mistakes as opportunities”; “a collective sense of responsibility”; and “team spirit”.
Significantly, Binotto is on record as saying it would not be possible to have a “good or competitive car” in 2022 with its normal development approach. He says Ferrari’s ability to understand its past weaknesses and successfully address them will be key to success in 2022.
Ferrari is not short on resources; it will be operating at the full extent of the new budget cap set at 140-million US dollars and will have one of the best driver parings on the grid in Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. So, will the Scuderia’s new development plan result in a more competitive team and maybe a coveted 2020 world title or two?