Breaking news
Formula 1 Austrian GP
Ferrari losing 0.7 seconds per lap on straights
Mattia Binotto believes it will be “very difficult” for Ferrari to rectify its straight-line speed disadvantage this Formula 1 season after losing 0.7 seconds per lap to Mercedes in Austria.
Luke Smith
Edited: Jul 6, 2020, 11:30 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ferrari endured a disastrous qualifying at the Red Bull Ring on Saturday as Charles Leclerc qualified almost one second off the pace in seventh, one year on from taking pole position at the same circuit.
Leclerc was able to battle through to second in an eventful race on Sunday despite spending much of the race stuck in the midfield fight, while teammate Sebastian Vettel ailed to 10th after a clash with Carlos Sainz Jr, having failed to reach Q3 the previous day.
After widely being recognised for having the best power unit through 2019, Ferrari appeared to take a dramatic backward step for 2020, with all three Ferrari-powered teams suffering a big drop in pace compared to last year in Austria.ç
Comparison qualifying times 2019 vs 2020
The setback comes following a private settlement between the FIA and Ferrari over its power unit in 2019 amid recurring questions over its legality.
Speaking after the race in Austria, Ferrari team principal Binotto said that while a significant update package for the SF1000 car was planned for Hungary in two weeks’ time, there was no easy fix for the issues.
"We need to improve our car, as there are some miscorrelations with the design, the car behaviour, especially on the aero,” Binotto said.
“That’s a development we have started again, coming back from the lockdown, and hopefully we have very soon at the race track.
“It will not be the final solution, as there is no silver bullet. What’s important for us is to improve those type of behaviours.”
Binotto addressed the one-second gap between Leclerc and Mercedes polesitter Valtteri Bottas in qualifying, believing seven tenths of that was down to the power unit alone.
“If I looked at yesterday’s qualy, compared to the pole, we are missing a second,” Binotto said.
“Of the second, three-tenths in cornering, in what I was just speaking about. But then there is still seven tenths on the power unit on the straights.
“I think that one will be very much difficult, because the engine is frozen for the season.
“The speed on the straights, that is [also] about the drag, and drag is not something we are addressing very soon.
“So I think a bit of disappointment from yesterday, a bit of disappointment to see our speed on the straight.
“But let’s analyse all the data and let’s see what we can do for the future.”
Read Also:
In further proof of Ferrari’s backward step year-on-year, Leclerc’s time in Q3 was nine-tenths of a second slower than his pole lap in Austria from 2019.
Asked how it was possible to have lost so much time in 12 months, Binotto said he preferred to focus on the comparisons to Ferrari’s immediate rivals.
“Honestly I’m not too worried looking at last year,” Binotto said.
“I think the comparison should not be to last year, but compared to our competitors.
“Now we are focussed on our relative competitiveness to our competitors, looking at the qualy lap and the result today, and try to address the issues of our cars.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Horner: Hamilton is the one who needs to change approach
Next article Mercedes: Bottas radio message nothing to do with 'Multi 21'
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Luke Smith
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
Formula 1
Formula 1
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Formula 1
Formula 1
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Formula 1
Formula 1
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
More from
Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
MotoGP
MotoGP
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
WEC
WEC
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
Latest news
How Red Bull's crucial strategy call helped Max Verstappen win the "Maxico Grand Prix"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
How Red Bull's crucial strategy call helped Max Verstappen win the "Maxico Grand Prix"
Toyota explains call to run Celica and Yaris models in WRC 2027
WRC
WRC WRC 2 h
Toyota explains call to run Celica and Yaris models in WRC 2027
Isack Hadjar blames himself for George Russell clash that “ruined” his Mexico GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
Isack Hadjar blames himself for George Russell clash that “ruined” his Mexico GP
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe