Scuderia Ferrari won’t be able to fully address the SF90’s lack of competitiveness compared to their rivals before the end of the season, team principal Mattia Binotto has admitted. The team is unable to generate as much downforce at its rivals which has put it at a disadvantage on some tracks. While the team won at Spa, they finished over a minute behind the leaders in the previous race at the Hungaroring.
Mattia Binotto admitted the “quite different characteristics” between their car and those of rivals Mercedes and Red Bull explain their shortcomings. “We are certainly lacking in grip-limited areas and this is where we need to improve,” he said in today’s FIA press conference.
“Whenever we may go to circuits where there are a lot of corners and we are grip-limited, or maximum downforce will be required to be fast, we are certainly showing our big weakness.”
Although the Ferrari boss does not believe the Italian side can fully close the gap this year, he said any progress they are able to make will pay off in the 2020 F1 season, as the technical regulations will change little next year.
“Are we addressing that [deficit] by the end of the season? I don’t think so because the gap is too big in that area. Can we improve the situation? Certainly we are working to address it. Are we putting too much effort on this season and should we concentrate on next year by trying to address the issue? Being that the regulations are stable from now to next year we believe that whatever we do this season will be useful for the next one. So yes there are gaps that will remain. Hopefully we may close it.” – Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto explained ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.
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