Ferrari is temporarily closing two manufacturing centers in Italy because of the coronavirus outbreak and at the same time the Racing Department will also suspend its activities for the moment. However, the Maranello team will be looking to improve its SF1000 car in the hope that once the 2020 Formula 1 season will finally begin, the Italian side will be able to successfully challenge Mercedes and Red Bull.
While Scuderia Ferrari came out of the test days as ‘winter champion’ in 2019, this year they did not impress. The word ‘sandbagging’ came up quickly, but according to team principal Mattia Binotto, that was not the case, as the Ferrari boss admitted that the team was simply behind the competition.
The coronavirus situation may, therefore, provide some advantage for Ferrari. The FIA has not yet banned the teams from working on the car while the season is at a standstill. When the employees can get back to work after the self-imposed isolation period of two weeks, the battle in the factories can begin.
New engine technology
According to Motorsport.com, the SF1000, which was scheduled to start in Melbourne, will therefore never be used in a Grand Prix. The publication reports that Ferrari is going to improve the engine, among other things. For example, the team wants to use a warmer pre-chamber technique. This should improve pre-chamber combustion.
Ferrari wants to outclass the competition, but Mercedes and Red Bull Racing will not sit still in the meantime. Mercedes showed its revolutionary DAS system during the winter test and other teams undoubtedly planned to copy that system. Now that the season has come to a hault, there is no better time to work on that. On the other hand, teams will also be able to work on the car before 2021.
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