On paper, the Silverstone track seems less suited to the characteristics of the SF-23, even if Ferrari is the team that put its name in the roll of honor of the British GP last year with Carlos Sainz, with the Spanish to his first success in Formula 1.
We asked Marco Froio, a 37-year-old Roman engineer and specialist in managing the Scuderia’s tyres, to frame the redhead’s English trip.
The race takes place at Silverstone, a complete and very demanding track for drivers and cars. The tires are also particularly stressed here, why?
“It is certainly one of the most demanding tracks in the world championship for tyres. Mainly two factors make it so onerous: the high average travel speed and the presence of many high-speed bends”.
“The first induces high vertical loads which put a strain on the structural strength of the tyres. The second imposes extreme lateral loads especially on the front left, which cause high tread wear and overheating which leads the tire to work at a non-optimal temperature”.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Starting from this race, Pirelli brings new tires by type of construction. Why and how do they differ from the previous type?
“Pirelli has decided to replace the specification of tires used up to now with a new one because load levels were already reached in the first part of the season higher than those predicted in the simulations at the end of last year. The teams are bringing continuous developments to the track, which determine a significant increase in the aerodynamic load that the cars are able to generate and that the tires are called upon to support”.
“Therefore, Pirelli has decided to strengthen the construction of the tires to increase their resistance to fatigue, without having to resort to a significant increase in the minimum prescribed pressures. It is no coincidence that this change takes place at Silverstone, given the stress this track places on the tyres”.
What is the path that brought you to Ferrari and can you tell us what it feels like to represent the Scuderia in Formula 1?
“I graduated in aerospace engineering at La Sapienza University in Rome, and before coming to Ferrari about 8 years ago, I worked as an aerodynamicist in the wind tunnel. Being part of the Scuderia represents a unique opportunity for me, which has allowed me to make my passion my job, and allows me to grow alongside professionals among the best in the sector. It is a source of pride, but also and above all of responsibility towards the fans who support us in every corner of the world”.
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