Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto says the squad is still trying to optimise the downforce/drag trade-off with its 2020 Formula 1 car, the SF1000.
The SF1000’s predecessor – the SF90 – was the fastest of the field in outright top speed, but ultimately was unable to match Mercedes, and usually Red Bull, in cornering speed.
Ferrari has had a subdued start to 2020 Formula 1 testing, avoiding setting fast lap times, having adopted a different approach in the wake of its mis-step in 2019.
Binotto remains confident the Italian marque does have a faster package compared to its 2019 challenger, but reiterated his stance on his team not having the fastest package on the grid.
“As I said last week, we believe we’re not fastest car at the moment,” said Binotto.
“We think on lap time we will be behind at the start of the season.
“Where are we lacking? The car this season compared to ours last season is overall faster, but we are faster in the corners, slow on the straights, which was our objective from the end of last year.
“We try to put as much downforce on the car as we could to be as fast as possible in the corners, but now we are paying for it a bit on the straights.
“I think in terms of overall balance and low speed set up in the corners is where we need to improve but this is part of the things for this week.”
On why Ferrari changed its approach for 2020’s pre-season tests, Binotto said: “Because in the end we always want to try and improve ourselves.
“We did some mistakes last year and the way we approached it, especially from reliability tests and or for functionality and understanding of the car.
“We are still a young team and it’s important for us that we are improving. And that means learning from the past and adapting better. But not to play any games or whatever.”
