Ferrari issue worrying update on chances of challenging Red Bull in F1 2023

Henry Valantine
Charles Leclerc enters his Ferrari. Miami May 2023.

Charles Leclerc climbs into his Ferrari onto the grid ahead of the race. Miami May 2023.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has said the team’s long-planned arrival of new front suspension will not take place in Barcelona as previously hoped.

The Scuderia have been looking to bring upgrades to the SF-23 on a race-by-race basis as the season progresses, with Vasseur adding that Ferrari “will bring improvements in all races, but not revolutions” – all but ruling out a Mercedes-style overhaul to their car’s philosophy in the process.

With Red Bull holding a dominant lead at the front of the field, Ferrari are one of several teams in a congested chasing pack trying to close down a sizeable gap to the runaway championship leaders, and the arrival of new front suspension was reportedly a part of a wider upgrade plan for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

When asked about how the team are approaching improving its car this season, the Ferrari team boss explained that they are opting to take the path they feel is best for them.

“Every team has its own philosophy and its own way of approaching the development race and the direction of development,” Vasseur said, as per SoyMotor.

“We will see what will happen later on, but in Barcelona we won’t bring any front suspension improvements.”

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While front suspension will not be arriving at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this weekend, sporting director Laurent Mekies confirmed separately that the team will not be empty-handed when they arrive in Spain.

He supports the step-by-step approach Vasseur has opted to take to car upgrades instead of implementing significant philosophy changes, and revealed that other areas of the car could see improvements come the weekend for the home race of Carlos Sainz.

“We obviously have carried over the stuff that was planned for Imola to here, so there is actually quite a few small new things on the car,” Mekies said of the team’s upgrades in Monaco.

“I think in terms of approach, Fred has made very clear that we will more so go for the continuous improvements approach, as opposed to betting everything on a given package or another one.

“Yes, there are more substantial things that are coming to Barcelona, but I think in general, it will be about trying to bring everything we can race-in, race-out, until the end of the season.”