Recently, Ferrari introduced an upgrade package that has left the team struggling. Carlos Sainz is concerned that the team has regressed significantly.
Since its introduction in Spain, the upgrade has caused issues, particularly with the new floor. In recent races, the SF-24 has been observed bouncing in high-speed corners.
During the Silverstone weekend, the Maranello team experimented with various adjustments, ultimately reverting to the Imola setup.
While this reduced the bouncing, it resulted in an overall loss of pace, allowing Mercedes and McLaren to gain ground on the Italian outfit.
“It’s not satisfactory,” commented Sainz, who finished 35 seconds behind fourth-placed Oscar Piastri. “Our car is basically the same as it was in Imola, while our competitors have all made upgrades that have added two-tenths to their performance. We had to backtrack.”
Expressing disappointment in the recent decisions made by the team, Sainz added, “We’ve lost out on potential performance gains over the past few months. We need to improve from here onwards, as our rivals are ahead of us.”
Reflecting on the British Grand Prix, Sainz mentioned, “I think we did our best, especially in challenging conditions. While I believe our decisions and strategy were on point, we lacked the pace to contend for the podium or a win. Nonetheless, finishing fifth with the fastest lap was a positive outcome.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming races before the summer break, Sainz anticipates continued challenges.
Team boss Fred Vasseur, on the other hand, believes that Ferrari made progress at Silverstone.
“Despite the results not being ideal, I think we improved technically over the weekend,” stated Vasseur. “We have a better understanding of our situation now, which bodes well for the remainder of the season.”
Discussing the struggles faced by the team, Vasseur mentioned the need for further analysis and development to address the issues effectively.
While the team’s championship standings are important, Vasseur stressed the immediate focus on performance improvement for future races.
Ultimately, Vasseur remains optimistic about Ferrari’s prospects for the remainder of the season, acknowledging the challenges ahead but expressing confidence in the team’s ability to turn things around.
