Ferrari Declared “Real Contenders” by Red Bull Legend as Max Verstappen Lies at the Mercy of Bold RB20 Changes

Ferrari refused to take cues from Red Bull for their new car for the 2024 season. The RB19 proved itself to be one of the most dominant Formula 1 cars in the hands of Max Verstappen. One of the things that made it so good was the suspension system on the car. While many teams have now gone in the direction of the RB19 by switching to a push-rod rear suspension geometry, Ferrari has remained with their tried and tested pull-rod configuration. According to Red Bull brand ambassador David Coulthard, Ferrari’s gamble just might pay off if Red Bull can’t get on top of the bold changes on the new RB20.

The thing that made the RB19’s suspension system so good was the anti-dive and anti-squat characteristics of the front and rear suspension under loads like heavy braking and acceleration that gave the car a very stable platform with the added benefit of optimized airflow toward the rear end of the car. And while the suspension remains the same, the RB20, which was supposed to be an evolution of its successful predecessor, seems to have undergone some unexpected changes.

Has Ferrari finally solved its race pace issue

The SF23 was not a slow car in 2023 by any standard. It was right up there with Red Bull in single lap pace, as proven by the multiple pole positions secured by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. However, what they lacked was sustained performance over a race distance with poor tire degradation. Explaining the decision to not go with Red Bull-style push-rod rear suspension, Enrico Cardile, Ferrari’s technical director said that despite trying the push-rod setup, the team didn’t find the benefits outweighing the compromises in weight and compliance.

Ferrari’s confidence in its pull-rod design lies in its effectiveness. The adjustment to reposition the pull-rod element forward represents Ferrari’s approach to managing the inboard suspension compared to the previous iterations. In a recent interview with Formula1.com, David Coulthard spoke about the possible challengers to Red Bull. “I don’t have a crystal ball, but you’ve got to believe Ferrari had a strong car last year in terms of single-lap pace. If they’ve managed to improve on whatever it was that was making their race pace difficult, then they are a real contender,“ said the 13-time race winner.

Coulthard also spoke about how Red Bull was happy with the initial test of the car during the Silverstone shakedown. He said that the car performed as expected under the given conditions. However, he also acknowledged that while the initial impressions are important, the real test lies in qualifying and racing performance, which the team will only find out during the pre-season test and the Grand Prix in Bahrain.

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While there are speculations surrounding the changes to RB20, Verstappen gave his honest opinion about the car after trying it out at the shakedown.

Max Verstappen feels Red Bull has been aggressive with the new car

The Dutchman was quite happy about the team’s decision to not stick with a conservative design from the previous year but instead opting for significant changes to enhance performance. He highlighted the team’s motivation and excitement about the new car, emphasizing their positive attitude towards the upcoming season.

“I do like what the team has done. It’s not a conservative car. It’s not like, ‘last year was a great car, we’ll just add a few bits and try to make it a little bit faster’,” Verstappen told Sky Sports News. “I do think they’ve been quite bold and that’s what I like. They’ve been quite aggressive.”

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Can Ferrari catch up to Red Bull in 2024 with improved tire degradation and a better race pace? Share your insights in the comments down below.