Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Circuit de Catalunya, 2020

Ferrari to introduce major car update at Hungarian Grand Prix

2020 F1 season

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Ferrari intends to introduce a major update to its SF1000 at the third round of the season in Hungary after taking a “significant change of direction” with its development programme.

Team principal Mattia Binotto revealed the team has been working on the changes since the end of pre-season testing in February.

The car will “run in the same configuration used towards the end of the Barcelona tests” this weekend, according to Binotto. While the team, along with its rivals, has been required to close its factory for much of the past three-and-a-half months, Binotto said the team have been able to put five-and-a-half weeks’ work into developing its car.

“The truth is that the outcome of the tests led us to take a significant change of direction in terms of development, especially on the aerodynamic front,” he said.

“First, we had to understand why we did not see the results we had expected on track and how much to re-calibrate the whole programme as a result. It would have been counterproductive to continue in the direction we had planned, knowing that we would not have reached our goals. Therefore we decided to come up with a new programme that looked at the whole car, knowing that not all of it would be ready for the first race.

“Our aim is to introduce the updates at the third race on 19 July at the Hungaroring.”

Binotto discounted the possibility of Ferrari leading the field at this weekend’s season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

“We know that, at the moment, we don’t have the fastest package,” he said. “We knew it before heading for Melbourne and that hasn’t changed.

“Having said that, the Spielberg circuit has different characteristics to Montmelo and the temperatures will be well above those of February. In Austria, we must try and make the most of every opportunity and then in Hungary, with the new development step we are working on, we will be able to see where we are really compared to the others, while having to take into account the developments our competitors themselves will have brought along.”

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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13 comments on “Ferrari to introduce major car update at Hungarian Grand Prix”

  1. Talk is cheap. Sunday will be a teller of tales as to where we stand. I see Ferrari just a mid field runner until proven wrong.
    I question the harmony in the team as this season finally gets going. The Mercedes will only be tested by the RedBull. I would bet on a RedBull win too. If The Mercedes dominate here and RedBull flops I see challenges only from a Racing point and maybe a Ferrari. Certainly Charley Clerk will rise above Seb now. He’s old news now and shows a negative attitude. Can’t be bettered by a teammate. So now that black lives matter and black cars matter then expect a black lives celebration with the black Mercedes in their new look black uniforms. I think It’s great and believe the world will be better off by starting off with a black lives matter win for all colors of people world wide.
    So let’s get going and occupy my mind with ultra fast screaming racecars and competition worthy of the Grand Prix Racing. Time to stand on it. Let’s go.

    1. If Mercedes dominate at that circuit its over for the year in terms of the championship imo. I’m hoping Red Bull make it tough for the first couple of weeks at least.

    2. @HOLMZINI
      Binotto discounted the possibility of Ferrari leading the field at this weekend’s season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

      “We know that, at the moment, we don’t have the fastest package,” he said. “We knew it before heading for Melbourne and that hasn’t changed.
      He said Ferrari is not the fastest

  2. Was there an Austrian Grand Prix TV Times article that I’ve missed? Cant seem to see it…

    1. @Kasim No, there hasn’t been that yet.

      1. Okay, thanks

  3. Ah, so I was right about Ferrari first needing to get some more info on their car and that being the reason they are not bringing their upgrade to the first races then.

    Also, how does Ferrari do that – they have a really solid car and then for the following year they manage to bork it. Wasn’t that on-off year a McLaren thing? Guess it really is not going to be “their year” yet again.

    1. It seems they didn’t like their 2019 dragster, even less as they have basically lost their smarty-pants power advantage, or they are just sandbagging like Toto.

  4. Adam (@rocketpanda)
    30th June 2020, 23:15

    Would this mean the rumours the Ferrari wasn’t particularly good are true and not sandbagging then? Could it be worse than not expecting much more than 5th/6th? No guarantees the replacement in Hungary is going to fix the issues though.

    This really could be the best chance for Red Bull in a long time. I do hope they take it.

    1. @rocketpanda
      Ferrari were not sandbagging in testing. They faced severe issues one of them according to a report published by la Gazzetta Dello Sport is that their gearbox was “flexing” too much under stress. A workaround for that issue was to alter the rear suspension configuration which alone caused the car to understeer.
      They have also redesigned the 2020 PU which is said to be less powerful than last year’s beast. By the Hungarian GP Ferrari should be able to unlock the SF1000 potential, however RBR & Mercedes (with the DAS) will have already developed a new version of their car by that time.

  5. Next year* will be their year!

    *might be the year after, or the one after that

  6. Don’t worry Binotto
    I’m Ok with us being third fastest car
    We’re playing the long game now, the passing of Marchionne really shook things up but we’ll get back to the front.
    We’re Ferrari we always get back to the front
    Forza Ferrari

  7. Is this it? Has Ferrari wised up? Top 3 voted for development freeze so this upgrade might ferrari’s last chance to fix their 2021 car.
    Everyone has realised a narrow nose with a cape is the way to go, everyone but Ferrari.

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