F1 News
Binotto: It will take two more upgrades to challenge Mercedes
- Jake Williams-Smith
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has said it will take two or three more updates until the Italian team can truly challenge Mercedes this season.
Despite looking like title contenders after pre-season testing had concluded, Ferrari has been comfortably beaten by Mercedes, with the reigning champions winning every race so far this season.
While the Canadian Grand Prix looked like a serious step forward in performance for Ferrari, Binotto said it was too soon to be challenging Mercedes just yet in a straight fight.
"There are two factors. First the tires. Of course we can not influence that," Binotto is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.
"What we can do is change the concept of our car. That means more downforce, but also more air resistance. And you can not correct that in one day.
"The process will take several weeks, because we also have to make sure that all of our changes to aerodynamics are going in the right direction.
"Do not expect a B version of our car. It'll take two or three upgrades before we're able to challenge Mercedes everywhere.
"The title is not the question I'm asking right now. The priority is that we recognize the problem correctly and react to it in the best way so that we can regain our strength as soon as possible."