Ferrari SF23 Looks To Copy Banned Mercedes W13 Front Wing After 2023 Reveal

Ferrari is looking to poke the bear in 2023 as they copy Mercedes' front wing from 2022.

Ferrari has made waves in the F1 with the unveiling of their new SF23, and the most notable feature of the car is its striking front wing. Interestingly, this design bears a striking resemblance to the controversial front wing that Mercedes used in the 2022 US Grand Prix, which was later deemed to provide an unfair aerodynamic advantage by the FIA, and was therefore banned.

At the time, rival teams such as Ferrari and Red Bull argued that Mercedes had added five fins to both sides of the front wing, securing the top two flaps, resulting in an unfair aerodynamic advantage. 

This prompted a precautionary removal of the wing, and the FIA later censured the design. However, Ferrari's front wing design for the SF23 also includes exactly five fins per wing side, indicating a similar approach to that of Mercedes.

What sets Ferrari apart is that there appears to have been a rule change that now allows for the inclusion of the secondary aerodynamic benefits of the fins. This is in contrast to the 2022 regulations, which specified that fins on the front wing must be used only for mechanical and structural purposes primarily. 

A revised version of the 2023 Technical Regulations has removed this emphasis on the primary use of the fins, and Ferrari has taken advantage of this change to build a front wing that incorporates both mechanical and aerodynamic benefits.

It remains to be seen how effective Ferrari's front wing will be, and whether Mercedes has also developed a similar design for their 2023 car for when pre-season testing begins later this month. However, the inclusion of these fins is likely to spark debate among motorsport fans and experts alike, as teams continue to push the boundaries of what is allowed under the regulations. 

The new season promises to be an exciting one, with new designs and innovations paving the way for even more thrilling races.