The development race has now begun, which in Miami has already shown it can rewrite the hierarchies. Ferrari has found even more performance from aerodynamics, but pays the price for the engine delay, consoling itself by seeing many of its own solutions taken up by the competition. This is the case for McLaren, which has made a significant leap in low-speed corners, and Red Bull, which has solved balance and steering problems. In the new episode of Thursday Engineers, Federico Albano and Carlo Platella take stock of the situation, with the support of telemetry and graphics.
McLaren overtakes Ferrari
Ferrari, the first of the chasers in March, has temporarily reduced the gap to Mercedes by introducing a substantial package of updates concerning the floor and diffuser. Telemetry shows that the SF-26 has further improved in handling, but the lack of horsepower from the power unit is felt, forcing the drivers to ask more from the tires, accelerating their degradation. Also worrying are Lewis Hamilton’s statements, who accuses the Maranello simulator of having led him off track, refusing to use it ahead of Canada. For now, the greatest satisfaction for the Prancing Horse is seeing its own solutions adopted by rivals, a sign of renewed creativity and calm within the team.
McLaren has also brought many innovations, followed by a second package in Canada. The MCL40 has changed in the floor, diffuser, and rear wing, making a big leap forward in performance. The data shows a jump especially in slow corners, a quality that confirms the same ground effect floor concept of the papaya cars. The world champions have also improved in exploiting the Mercedes power unit, which in Miami pushed as many as seven cars into the points zone.
Verstappen returns, but Mercedes is still ahead
The big surprise in Miami, however, was Red Bull. The Milton Keynes team has worked on the floor, bodywork, diffuser, and front wing, also bringing an alternative interpretation of the inverted mobile wing, showing excellent straight-line speeds. The RB22 has improved especially in balance and drivability, meeting Verstappen’s preferences. The Dutch champion also benefited from steering interventions, after complaining about problems since the first lap of testing in Barcelona.
Overall, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull have all closed in on the top, where Mercedes still remains, ready to bring its development package to Canada. Toto Wolff’s team owes its latest success also to the talent of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, more in tune with the W17 than Russell, showing better tire management. The impression, however, is that the championship will not be a walk for Mercedes, with the competition destined to get closer and closer.
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