The team principal of Ferrari, Fred Vasseur, stated that his team is “pushing hard” to manage its ongoing issue with high-speed bouncing.
This bouncing problem became evident following the introduction of a new floor during the Spanish Grand Prix, particularly in high-speed corners.
After conducting consecutive tests at Silverstone, the Scuderia implemented temporary solutions to ease the issue, but they are still pursuing a long-term fix post-summer break.
While the problem was less noticeable in Spa, it is expected to resurface at Zandvoort, a track featuring high downforce, unless Ferrari can unveil a solution after the two-week mandatory summer closure.
“Addressing the bouncing problem is integral to our performance improvements, and we are committed to delivering a solution as quickly as we can,” Vasseur commented after the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, where the issue resurfaced with lighter fuel loads.
“It’s quite challenging to replicate the bouncing during simulations, as factors like wind direction changes can cause it to fluctuate. This variability makes it truly marginal, and we are always operating at the edge of this issue.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Following several challenging weeks, Ferrari’s performance seemed to stabilize during the races in Hungary and Belgium. However, the limited upgrade path still meant that Charles Leclerc, who started in pole position, and Carlos Sainz faced difficulties finishing in fourth and seventh places, respectively—both benefitting from George Russell’s disqualification to advance one position.
As all teams struggle to make notable improvements to their 2024 cars, Vasseur emphasizes the need for Ferrari to take calculated risks with upgrades, as even minor performance enhancements can significantly affect standings.
“We have metrics to help gauge if we will improve, but ultimately we are motivated by the performance gains achievable with added downforce,” he elaborated.
“We have made substantial progress, but it appears everyone is advancing rapidly as well. The challenge lies in developing very close to the limit, and we constantly grapple with the bouncing issue to stay competitive. A miscalculation requires recalibrating our approach.”
Both Leclerc and Sainz expressed dissatisfaction with Ferrari’s performance in Spa, particularly given that Mercedes showcased strong race pace, which meant Ferrari was positioned as the fourth-fastest team on Sunday, after ceding second place to McLaren in Hungary.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24
Photo by: Ferrari
“It’s encouraging to witness everyone’s competitiveness; however, we remain the fourth-quickest team as the top three are constantly shifting,” Leclerc mentioned. “We consistently find ourselves behind them, comparable to Mercedes, so we require more speed.”
When Sainz was questioned about whether Ferrari had made progress last weekend, he replied, “Given the pace of Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren during the race, I don’t think so. We still lack two or three tenths.”
“With [Leclerc’s] car starting from pole position, we still only managed to finish fourth. I felt competitive with my car and seemed to be on track for a podium, but once everyone switched to hard tires, it became evident how everyone else’s pace was,” Sainz reflected.
“I felt fast and capable, but once I learned the lap times of my competitors, I realized my pace wasn’t as quick as I had hoped.”
