Assembly of the 676 began a few days ago at the Gestion Sportiva assembly department. Around the new bodywork, assembly of the first red 2024 model began: a puzzle of small and large parts which should be completed at the beginning of the month of February for the traditional “fire-up”, i.e. the start-up of the power unit, once the car has been completed in every detail.
The installation phase, especially of the first machine, is followed with great attention because it allows us to discover the assembly times of the individual parts, given that the project, as announced by Fred Vasseur, has changed 95% compared to to the SF-23.
During the design phase, in fact, the chief designer, Fabio Montecchi, and his collaborators look for the solution capable of giving maximum performance, but also good intervention functionality that allows quick replacements in the garages, should the need arise. . This is one of the reasons that pushed Enrico Cardile's staff to maintain the push rod layout of the front suspension: having the internal mechanisms in the upper part allows the mechanics to carry out all the set up adjustments in a decidedly shorter time.
In the Scuderia's timetable, in fact, there is the idea of taking the 676 to the dynamic bench around February 2nd or 3rd, where the red car will be subjected to very tough work cycles to verify its behaviour. This is a cell in which the entire car can be housed to start an important, yet sophisticated, simulation plan.
A commitment of about ten days is expected, just in time to decide on the red for February 13, when Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will alternate behind the wheel on the Fiorano track for the 15 kilometers that the FIA authorizes for the “baptism” of an F1. As we have already had the opportunity to underline, in Maranello they have chosen to make a “cold” presentation: the launch will take place via the web, without media (neither television, nor journalists) and without a show.
Photo by: Erik Junius
The front suspension of the 676 will be a push rod design as on the SF-23
In Maranello they prefer substance to… cinema, counting on letting the results do the talking. The presentation with great fanfare, however, would have interrupted a feverish work plan: the tests on the dynamic bench, in fact, will be followed by the shakedown on 13 February and, therefore, there will be the first filming day with the possibility of evaluating the 676 in a 200 km session (double as in the past) which will alternate commercial filming with the first real functional test with the two drivers who will be able to complete 33 laps each.
The dynamic test bench will provide the first important answers on the 2024 car: the car will be subjected to durations to verify the reliability of all systems even when pressures and temperatures vary. The technicians, therefore, will have the opportunity to look for the strengths and possible weaknesses in a season that will require 24 GPs.
Ferrari seems to want to set up the longest championship in history with four power units, accepting the idea of going to a penalty in a race decided on the table, rather than allocating resources to extend the life of an engine which in 2023 brilliantly surpassed the obstacle of the 22 races without breakages.
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