Ferrari bringing a 'few upgrades' to Baku to combat poor start

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says the team will bring a number of upgrades to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a poor start to the 2019 season.

The Maranello squad has seen rivals Mercedes take three consecutive one-two finishes, while it has struggled to keep up, scoring two podiums between its two drivers. 

Ferrari has shown glimpses of speed, particularly in Bahrain, where it locked out the front row. Charles Leclerc was set to win the race before an engine problem saw him drop to P3 when the chequered flag fell.

Ferrari has never won at the Baku City Circuit, but Binotto says that it has prepared for the upcoming race 'very well' as it targets its first win of the season.

"Coming off the back of three races that definitely didn’t go the way we wanted, this GP is another important moment for us," he said.

"We have prepared for it very well, analysing all the data we have acquired up until now, looking at areas where we can improve and working on adapting the car’s set-up and the power unit management to the characteristics of the track.

"In fact, Baku features a very long straight, which places special demands on the engine, both the internal combustion part as well as the hybrid elements.

With the circuit containing a 2.2km long straight, Binotto thinks that overtaking will be easy during the race, especially now that both drag and the DRS effect have increased in 2019. 

"It’s relatively easy to overtake on this track, partly due to the DRS, especially this year as it has a greater effect than in the past.

"The track surface is very smooth, which means tyre wear is generally low, but as the tyres therefore generate less energy, it can be difficult to get them in the right working temperature range.

"We know from past experience that there’s a high probability of the Safety Car appearing on track in Baku and therefore it’s an important aspect to consider when looking at the race strategy.

"We are bringing a few updates to Baku, as the first step in the development of the SF90.”