Ferrari modified the rear wheel rims of the SF-26. An update that hit the track for the Barcelona Grand Prix, where knowing how to manage operating temperatures, especially at the rear, becomes a decisive weapon to maintain pace throughout the race stints. An update that contributed largely to Lewis Hamilton’s triumph.
The importance of tire management in Formula 1
The onboard communications between Lewis and the Ferrari pit wall revealed the relentless work on the various braking system adjustments; parameters constantly modified to ensure the correct grip at the rear without reaching critical temperatures that would have triggered sliding and consequent premature thermal degradation.
In recent decades, one of the components that has made the biggest difference in Formula 1 is precisely the tires. Knowing how to utilize them better than the opponents means creating significant advantages. We will remember the Mercedes solution with the drilled hubs, later judged illegal by the FIA, or the work by Ferrari.
On the 2007 season’s Ferrari, it was the Italian team that introduced the first management of the external blowing of the wheel rims. It debuted in an embryonic form in Monaco, only to be subsequently evolved for the Silverstone Grand Prix, complete with wheel covers. A solution that set a trend and was later copied by other teams.
The update to the rear BBS rims for Barcelona
As we can observe from the following illustration, the Maranello engineers introduced different BBS rims at Montmelò solely at the rear: the design features the replacement of the classic spokes with custom-designed vents bordered by an outer ring, reminiscent of another solution used in the past (illustration below).
The current objective is to dissipate excess heat from the core of the tire. According to FIA regulations, wheel rim dimensions are strictly regulated; however, there is a certain freedom in the shapes of some areas where engineers can work to find more efficient solutions.
Naturally, the development of this element must work in strict synergy with other components of the braking system, such as the discs and calipers enclosed within the drum. The latter acts as an adjustable thermal cover for managing the heat transferred to the rim and, consequently, to the tires.
Analyzing the various race stints with the three different compounds used by Lewis Hamilton (Soft, Hard, and Medium), it is easy to understand how the Italian team did an excellent job, allowing Lewis to fully exploit the tires and maintain a very high pace throughout the entire Grand Prix.
