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Ferrari's 2020 year hasn't begun in a smooth style, as there are already rumours that the Scuderia is struggling with a "worse than expected" car.
2019 marked a disaster for the Italian outfit, who won just three races during the year after two years of evident upwards progression.
Despite possessing strong straight-line speed, it struggled with its aerodynamics throughout the season, and failed to challenge Mercedes in both the constructors' and drivers' championship.
Early indications suggest that Ferrari could be facing another uphill battle in 2019, as Auto Bild reports that the team is coping with a car that is down on what it was hoping for in the simulations.
Italian journalist Leo Turrini reports that the Ferrari engineers have been left unimpressed by the data coming from the simulators.
Ferrari is currently enduring a long drought without a world title, with its last coming in 2008, when it clinched the constructors' championship.
In 2019, it took the team until after the summer break to take to the top step of the podium, with Charles Leclerc winning two consecutive races, including the team's home race in Italy, before Sebastian Vettel picked up his sole victory of the year.
MORE: Berger 'doesn't dare' predict outcome of 2020 Vettel/Leclerc battle | Ferrari's 2020 car passes FIA crash tests
The Maranello-based squad appeared much more competitive in the second half of the year, however Mercedes still proved to be the stronger outfit over the year.
There are also reports that Mercedes is pleased with the early data it is receiving from the W11, as it goes in search of a seventh consecutive world title.
Ferrari will launch its new car on February 11th at the Romolo Valli Municipal Theatre, while Mercedes will unveil its challenger on February 14th.
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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Replies (6)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
To describe their 2019 season as disastrous is to be hyperbolic. They still ended up on p2. But while it is still too early to say anything, I do think this cements my belief that RBH will be challenging for P2 in 2020.
JCF1
Posts: 27
#pre-excuse season begins
Kean
Posts: 692
Really don't know what to make of these reports. Is it a deliberate leak? Are they blowing smoke up our arses? Regardless, if this is BS I still think that RBH will fare better than Ferrari in 2020. If this is true, then perhaps we'll see McLaren on the podium a bit more often, at Ferrari's expense.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Honestly, nobody can do a lot out of these reports, unless you are directly involved in Ferrari's R&D and know this is either true or bollocks. I do however think there is some truth to these reports: these are typically leaks from people on the floor who know just enough to imply things aren't going to plan. Whether it's only temporarily or if things are going downhill for Ferrari come Australia remains to be seen.
f1ski
Posts: 726
to me if this is true ferrari needs to fire everyone in the devo team. I mean if you know how the wind tunnel and computer simulations translate into real world conditions make the changes accordingly. This is what i find so amazing about what has happened at williams and more so McLaren in the past
Bilstar
Posts: 54
Yeah sounds about right