Ferrari has undoubtedly had a quick car since the start of the current regulations in 2022. However, the Scuderia’s pace on a Saturday seemed to do its drivers no favors on the race day with extremely poor tire degradation. But the recent performances so far in 2024 have suggested that Ferrari can hold on to the tire life almost as good as the Red Bulls. However, tire deg wasn’t the only area of improvement for the Italian team. And now one of the insiders, Jock Clear has predicted that the race in Suzuka will reveal the team’s true pace in the pecking order.

According to Clear, Ferrari managed to solve the nagging tire degradation issue around the time of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix last season. By addressing this issue, Ferrari unlocked their car’s potential, allowing Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to feel more confident in the car. And the pre-season testing in Bahrain revealed that the issue has been dealt with for good.

Suzuka will make it or break it

It’s not a very easy task to test the true performance of an F1 car. Especially on a circuit like Bahrain which doesn’t necessarily provide all the conditions the cars will face throughout the year. This is why Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona was the preferred circuit for winter testing for a lot of years. However, another circuit, similar to Barcelona, yet a bit more difficult and traditional is the Suzuka International Circuit in Japan with fast-flowing center S’s, a couple of long sweeping high-speed turns, and the famous 130R corner before the final Chicane.

Unlike previous seasons, this time the Japanese GP is the fourth race on the calendar. And that’s where Jock Clear reckons Ferrari will get a true idea of all the other developments they have made over the winter break. “The SF-24 is better in terms of downforce, power, lightness, and handling,“ said Clear. “Concerning this last aspect, it is a big step forward made this winter. Both pilots are much more comfortable with the car and its greater predictability, and they are now no longer afraid when they are behind someone and the wind conditions change.”

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“Given the way this year’s calendar is structured, I think that after four races we will have a pretty clear idea. Suzuka is indeed an exceptional circuit to test a car. There, on this type of circuit, we’re going to discover a lot of things,” he added.

Can Ferrari repeat the heroics of Suzuka from last season and prove that they are up for the task of challenging the Red Bulls?

Suzuka is where Ferrari brought its best upgrade package in 2023

After winning the lone race in 2023 in Singapore at the hands of Carlos Sainz, Ferrari brought significant upgrades to their car at Suzuka. This move stood out as most teams take a conservative approach to bringing massive upgrades at the business end of the season.

Ferrari’s upgrades included a new floor design featuring revised inlet vanes, edges, underfloor, and diffuser. The team emphasized that these modifications prioritized loss management, aiming to enhance overall efficiency on the track. And it was only after these upgrades that Charles Leclerc managed to secure three pole positions, signaling a boost in the single lap performance.

SF24 to F14T – Intriguing History of Ferrari F1 Car Names in the Last Decade

Can Ferrari challenge Red Bull in Japan? Share your thoughts in the comments down below.