After two races, Carlos Sainz openly acknowledged that Ferrari misjudged the design concept of its 2023 car. Red Bull had already asserted itself as the benchmark, and the Maranello team found itself trailing, especially in the first portion of the season as rivals from Milton Keynes surged ahead. Sainz warned that the gap to Red Bull would be substantial and difficult to close, noting that Mercedes and Aston Martin were also gaining ground on them.
“It surprised us to see that our pace isn’t as strong as last year. We’re not competitive in race pace, which is our weakest point. We didn’t do a good enough job, we identified the issue, and now we’re working to fix it as quickly as possible,” he stated, conveying a mindset focused on rapid recovery.
In Maranello, engineers are already pursuing a substantial aerodynamic overhauling, aiming for a broader and deeper improvement beyond the upgrade packages planned for upcoming races in Baku or Imola. As with any bold change, results will take time, and it remains clear that addressing the SF-23’s race behavior will require patience. “We were carried away by last year’s car because it was sensational on a single lap, but in the final stretch you could see we were one step behind Red Bull in the race. The rule changes this year have added complexity to our car, so a different approach is needed,” Sainz explained.
Strategies for recovery must be measured, as rapid fixes are seldom enough. A steady process of data analysis, wind-tunnel testing, and part production is essential before the upgrades reach the track, and the team emphasizes that this is not a one-race fix or even a couple of months away from full implementation.
“We’re not planning to derail the season. There are paths to make this car faster, and from tomorrow onward we will push to gain performance in the race. We’re progressing, but it’s unrealistic to expect a one-second improvement right away,” the driver added, underscoring a pragmatic approach to regain competitiveness without overpromising short-term miracles.