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Ferrari admits car concept may be wrong

Published on 13 May 2019 12:52
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By: Fergal Walsh

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has admitted that his team's car concept for the 2019 season could be wrong, which is why it is losing out to Mercedes.

The Maranello squad has not won so far in 2019, while rivals Mercedes have taken five consecutive one-two finishes at the opening five race of the year.

When the cars were launched earlier this year, Mercedes and Ferrari had adopted two different front wing designs, and the Ferrari package appeared quick after pre-season testing.

Despite a near-victory in Bahrain, Ferrari has struggled to keep up with the Silver Arrows, leading Binotto to question the design of the SF90.

"We are losing a lot in each corner, not only in the last sector, it is each single corner we are slow," said Binotto. "[There is] quite a lot of understeer. Is that only downforce or is it more than that? That is something that we really need to analyse and understand.

"Any conclusion today will be a wrong conclusion. It will take some days to really have a proper analysis and try to understand: is it a matter of balance, is it a matter of downforce, is it maybe even car concept?

"I don't know. I think we do not have the answer and I would like not to go through it."

Binotto denied that it would be a "disaster" if Ferrari discovered that there was something wrong with the design of its car, as it is always striving to improve.

"I don't think it is a disaster by the time that you are improving as a team. And as I often say, we are a young team, we are learning on a learning phase.

"I think that in terms of process and methodology there is still much to learn and I am pretty happy by the time the team is improving. If it is a concept design then it obviously depends what it is, but I think there are things that you may address within a season."

Kean

Posts: 692

I find it interesting to see how basically every team except Mercedes have gone for a high rake concept, and a high mounted side pod air intake. In a way I can understand it because they're trying to copy what Adrian Newey is doing. But the success of Mercedes is obviously not only down to their ... [Read more]

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May 13 2019 - 13:16

F1 News Mattia Binotto Ferrari

Replies (6)

Kean

Posts: 692
I find it interesting to see how basically every team except Mercedes have gone for a high rake concept, and a high mounted side pod air intake. In a way I can understand it because they're trying to copy what Adrian Newey is doing. But the success of Mercedes is obviously not only down to their PU, in 2014 maybe, but not anymore. Why another team doesn't copy Mercedes concept, I can't figure.
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- May 13 2019 - 13:16
f1dave

Posts: 782
"And as I often say, we are a young team." Where the hell has this guy been the last sixty years?
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- May 13 2019 - 16:13
Pistonhead

Posts: 556
Gotta hand t to the guys at Merc, they are pretty good arn't they?
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- May 13 2019 - 20:03
MrN_71

Posts: 13
There's nothing wrong with the car. The main problem are Ferrari them selves. They've given away podiums in it's desperate way to push VET to be no 1. He is not Ferraris fastest driver. He might be the most experienced driver Ferrari have. But that's not the same as the fastest. And that's not the only problem. Another big issue are that Ferrari are way to slow to make "in the moment" decisions on what to do "right now" on the track. It takes them 4-6 laps before they make a decision and then it's to late. In Barcelona they give away P3 to RBR because Ferrari didn't make their fastest driver at the moment 100% support. In the beginning LEC had to wait 5 laps before a swap was made. And the game was lost. In the end VET lost equal much time when the drivers was on different tire strategy. That's not good enough.

And Mercedes doesn't have any Aero benefits that explain the on track advantage Mercedes have over Ferrari. It lays in mechanical grip and drivability of the chassis together with the fuel efficiency engine Mercedes have compared to the Ferrari engine. Mercedes don't need as much fuel in the car witch reduce a lot of weight compared to Ferrari. That alone are approximately 0,3 of a second on a Q3 lap in Barcelona. Together with handling and drivability it's those 0,6 of a second what we experienced between the Mercedes in pole and the first Ferrari in P3.
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- May 14 2019 - 15:26
- Pistonhead
  
  Posts: 556
  This is a good write up and I agree, been saying Ferrari are just not clicking for a while now. I think Vettel on his day can be awesome, but I feel he has more pressure than Lewis has at Merc from his team mate. When will they day arrive? Monaco not far away and a chance to get the feel good back for the red team - can't wait - albeit this is the most irrelevant race of the season as far as I am concerned. - its not even a race, its a equally session.....never mind.
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  May 14 2019 - 23:04
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
While I do think Ferrari is the uncontested title holder of bollocksing up, I do think they have a worse car compared to Mercedes this year. Just look at how much time they lose per lap. Neither Vettel or Leclerc are slow, so even with their poor strategy this shouldn't be. The bad strategy is however what could allow Red Bull to usurp them. for 2nd.
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- May 15 2019 - 07:46