Ferrari’s performance at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2024 took a significant step towards its 2025 ambitions, as the team debuted an experimental floor design on Carlos Sainz’s SF-24 during free practice. This new component was purely for testing purposes and was never intended to race, but it played a critical role in gathering valuable data to inform Ferrari's development strategy for the upcoming season.
The floor in question is part of Ferrari’s broader push to optimize its car’s aerodynamics and performance in an era where the gap between theoretical simulations and real-world application has never been wider. In particular, mastering the floor and its associated components has proven to be one of the most challenging aspects of the current generation of Formula 1 cars. The floor significantly influences airflow under the car, affecting downforce, drag, and the car’s overall balance. The difficulty in fine-tuning this aspect has led to many teams—Ferrari included—struggling to fully unlock the performance potential of their cars.
In Ferrari’s case, the team’s previous attempts at new floor designs, such as the one introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this year, had led to high-speed bouncing, a phenomenon that hampered performance and forced the team to revert to older configurations. However, the Las Vegas test represented a fresh approach, with the team using it as a learning exercise to assess the effectiveness of their new wind tunnel data and how it could translate to improved on-track performance.
One of the key elements of the experimental floor was the revised edge wing, a component Ferrari had previously used in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons but had not fully unlocked the potential of. This L-shaped rear edge wing has been seen on other teams’ cars as well, signaling that it is a theoretically promising solution. However, Ferrari’s decision to reintroduce this design suggests the team believes it may be a key part of their car’s aerodynamics moving forward.
The new edge wing design incorporates a flatter surface that extends along its length, potentially optimizing airflow and helping to direct air around the rear of the car more efficiently. Additionally, the wing’s metal support brackets have been altered, suggesting that flexibility plays a role in its performance. The team’s engineers will likely need to fine-tune the level of flexibility required, ensuring that the wing's aerodynamic benefits can be fully realized without compromising stability or car behavior. This type of refinement requires careful balancing, and Ferrari is clearly keen to explore how best to incorporate the edge wing into their broader aerodynamic package.
However, the changes to the floor aren’t just limited to the visible components. Ferrari is likely to have made corresponding adjustments to the car's underfloor and other hidden elements, which are crucial for optimizing the airflow underneath the car. These changes are not immediately visible to the public, but they are integral to ensuring the floor's effectiveness in real-world conditions.
For Ferrari, this test session in Las Vegas was not just about assessing individual components like the edge wing or the floor, but rather about refining its entire aerodynamic philosophy. The team’s focus was on translating the information gathered from its newly upgraded wind tunnel into a viable solution that can work on track. While the data from the wind tunnel had shown promising results, the real test comes when those changes are applied to the car in a racing environment, where the complexities of airflow, tire behavior, and track conditions come into play.
Looking ahead to 2025, Ferrari’s work in Las Vegas is part of a larger strategy to improve its competitiveness and address the issues that have plagued its performance in recent seasons. Despite some strong showings, the Scuderia has often been left wanting in comparison to Red Bull, particularly in terms of consistent race-winning performances. However, by using races like Las Vegas as testing grounds for new ideas, Ferrari is hoping to gain a crucial edge that will enable it to challenge for top positions more regularly.
The Las Vegas experiment highlights Ferrari’s forward-thinking approach and willingness to take risks in the pursuit of better performance. While it remains to be seen how the data gathered will translate into results next season, the team’s proactive testing of new components and designs suggests that they are committed to making significant strides in their quest to return to the front of the grid. As the 2025 season draws closer, Ferrari’s work on the SF-24 in Las Vegas could prove to be a pivotal moment in their efforts to close the gap to the dominant teams and bring a more competitive car to the track.
