How big SF-23 changes were and Ferrari’s logic for initially sticking with its unique design. Ferrari's miserable F1 reality despite finally making key design change.

Scuderia Ferrari has spent the first year and a bit of Formula 1’s current regulations pointing out that it didn’t need to change its design direction to follow the lead set by Red Bull to have any chance of catching Red Bull. Even in the last few weeks, as we awaited the debut of a major update package at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, team principal Fred Vasseur explained that the Italian side would not change its design concept, because it had faith in the route it’s been taking since the start of the previous championship.

Then the new parts appeared in Barcelona… and it looked a lot like a significant step towards a change of concept. But by Sunday night Ferrari’s competitive picture didn’t look very different following the performance at the Circuit de Catalunya, leading to a miserable summary from Frederic Vasseur in Barcelona.

So how big were the SF-23 updates, what was Scuderia Ferrari’s logic for initially sticking with its unique design, and what made its team boss so downbeat by the end of the Spanish weekend?

—- see video above —