This is the secret of Ferrari’s enormous top speed at Monza

Ferrari knew that if they won at Monza, they would save their season. It is very far behind Red Bull in all races and it is not in the fight for the titles, but winning against the ‘tifosi’ at home, in front of the stands full of red, can serve to forget everything, to give joy in the whole desert and remove your sins to catch your breath and look to 2024 with hope. That is why Ferrari knew that at Monza it had to go for everything, or what is commonly said, in ‘whey or champagne’. In Monza many important elements come together to bet everything and put all the meat on the grill: in addition to being Ferrari’s home track, it has the perfect characteristics to enhance the car’s power: it is a circuit with 6 only curves and very long straights, perfect for the SF-23 because of its enormous top speed and engine power. And also, the wear and tear is lower than on other tracks, an element that has been one of Ferrari’s main ailments this year. In that context, Ferrari was stronger than another typical weekend, and Red Bull was still strong but a little less. There were some opportunities, however few, to dream big and apologize to the ‘tifosi’ for 2023 with a pole position and a win. You had to act.

Therefore, Ferrari chose to put everything they had into this one letter from Monza. They took the engine out of their cars, the fourth of the year (the next was penalized) to push it to the maximum for a lap. For qualifying, they unleashed all the power available. There is nothing to protect it. The read here is, if it only lasts one race, that it only lasts one, it doesn’t matter. If they win and in the next round they have to change engines, it doesn’t matter, because in Singapore they have no choice, while in Monza they can.

The key is in the fuel

With that new engine you have to add more horsepower. No use of ‘tokens’ (chips) to improve. By regulation the motors are frozen and only their reliability can be improved. Ferrari did something different: a new fuel made by ‘Shell’ was the key. The development of this fuel allowed Ferrari to gain around 5 horsepower, which is always a good help on the long stretches at Monza. And that’s noticeable at top speed. This is the talk around the Monza paddock. And at Ferrari, already on Saturday, they hope about that pole position that Sainz finally achieved, who put a lot of his work because of his state of grace on this track and his good reading of how to find the best possible configuration of the car. That ‘set up’ should have been adopted by Leclerc, who had more difficulties throughout the weekend.

To simplify your options

So, in the race, with the new engine, Ferrari will also be able to push it more than in other races, betting everything for this appointment. Sainz has a very fast car on the straight and that is his strength. On the contrary, the breakdown of the Red Bull is better and, if Max does not fail or have a problem with Leclerc and maintain second place at the start, he can win for that aspect, although it is necessary to see it. For now, Ferrari is betting everything on one card. This is your best chance. His career, before the tifosi. They made an extra effort, greater than in other races, with the goal of at least trying. Although facing the mighty Max and Red Bull, the challenge was almost impossible.