Charles Leclerc expects Ferrari will start the 2020 F1 season on the back foot when it eventually begins, following their experience in pre-season testing.
The team’s 2020 challenger seldom troubled the top of the times in pre-season testing and the team voiced concerns its new car was not as competitive as its front-running rivals on the straights.All teams have now suspended work at their factories due to the pandemic. The mandatory factory shutdown has been extended to over two months and new closures imposed on power unit builders. This will compress teams’ development schedules and leave them with less time to make progress this year.
Leclerc admitted he is unsure how easily Ferrari will be able to close the gap to its rivals once racing begins.
“I still believe we’ve been struggling a bit during testing, so we need to catch up,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans. “Whether we’ll be able or not I don’t know.
“But last year we had a good progression throughout the year. I think we need to keep working as we did last year and I’m pretty sure the results will come.”
Once the season begins the calendar is likely to feature several races in quick succession, making it harder for all teams to make progress with their cars.
“It is going to be a difficult season for everyone because as soon as its started it’s not going to stop and we won’t have any breaks to develop the car more than the others,” said Leclerc. “So I think the work on track will be extremely important and more than it has been every other year because we’ll spend a lot of time on-track whenever the season will start.
“So it’s going to be very important to be focussed and ready from the first race on as drivers to give the right feedback to the team and try and help the team in the right direction straightaway.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2020 F1 season
- Pictures: Wrecked chassis from Grosjean’s Bahrain fireball crash to go on display
- Bottas vs Rosberg: Hamilton’s Mercedes team mates compared after 78 races each
- F1 revenues fell by $877 million in Covid-struck 2020 season
- Hamilton and Mercedes finally announce new deal for 2021 season
- F1 audience figures “strong” in 2020 despite dip in television viewers
Cranberry
30th April 2020, 8:54
Does anyone really believe there will be any in-season development?
The teams already agreed to freeze pre-season development during lockdowns.
What are the odds they will bother to improve a dog of a car, if there is really only 5 months of actual racing with that dog.
Throw it out, and make sure to include it’s bath water.
So disappointed that we did not get a “F1 Superseason” with 2020 being combined with 2021, with 3x 1month breaks for vacations.
Mashiat (@mashiat)
30th April 2020, 9:51
Except it won’t be 5 months of racing with that car, it will be 5 months plus all of next season. I’d argue it’s more important to have a really good base with a car since the days of building one car for 3-4 seasons.
Only Facts!
30th April 2020, 10:56
Locked down, quarantine, forced vacation… those won’t stop brains from working.
I believe Newey is hand drawing stuff at his home office, same for all other teams aero chiefs. Between cups of coffee, I mean.
jpvalverde85 (@jpvalverde85)
1st May 2020, 15:18
The prancing horse is downplaying. I’ll be surprised if they are outside of top6 on Austria.