Sebastian Vettel Highlights Ferrari’s Single Biggest Weakness in 2020 F1 Car

Scuderia Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel has analyzed the SF1000’s performance so far. The German revealed the improvements Ferrari has made to its 2020 car, but also noted a particular weakness. The Italian team topped the timing charts in yesterday’s preseason test.

Sebastian Vettel assesses the SF1000

Ferrari’s 2019 car, the SF90, struggled with cornering and slow speed sections of a track. The car was a rocket down the straights but a snail through the twists and turns. The Maranello outfit has attempted to rectify its previous mistake, albeit with a costly tradeoff.

One of the major talking points of testing so far is Ferrari’s straight-line speed. It’s been far from impressive and nowhere near the SF90’s top speed. The Italian team only managed a top speed a little above 300kph on the main straight at the Catalunya circuit. This could be a classic case of sandbagging, but let’s not forget that this is Ferrari.

Despite lacking top speed, Vettel set the fastest lap time on Day 5. The German set an impressive 1:16.841 but was a full second down on Mercedes’ fastest lap time in testing.

Reflecting on a positive day, Vettel gave his assessment of the SF1000.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Vettel said:

“We can feel the car is better, I think Sector 3 feels better,”

“We also know that it does come with a trade. We still have some work to do, we are slower than we want down the straights because we are a bit draggy.”

“Certainly in the corners is where you feel the difference, and where we improved, but it looks like others are even a bit faster. That’s where we are I guess. There’s a lot of work to do”

Will this be Ferrari’s year?

Ferrari achieved 7 pole positions with the SF90, but only converted 3 of those to wins. That showed Ferrari’s weakness on race days, due to an uncompetitive car.

“We are pushing as hard as we can to get rid of the drag and make it more efficient. But we also believe that come race day, it gives us an advantage the way it is set up now, so we will see.

Team principal Mattia Binooto has signalled that the team won’t be arriving in Melbourne with all guns blazing. As a Ferrari fan, I can only hope Ferrari are pulling a Mercedes.