Ferrari set to sacrifice straight line speed for downforce

Binotto's inferior Ferrari design does not generate enough downforce and the Mercedes is destroying the Ferrari in the corners

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has confirmed the team will run a more downforce-heavy set-up in an attempt "to get the tires working", as the Italian team struggled to keep up with rivals Mercedes in France last weekend.

This week will be the first double-header of the F1 season, with the second of five races in the space of seven weeks coming on Sunday in Austria at the Red Bull Ring.

After not being anywhere near Mercedes' pace at Paul Ricard (although Charles Leclerc almost overtook Valtteri Bottas in the final lap), Ferrari know a few changes need to be made, as the F1 circus heads to Spielberg, a little under 700 miles away from Paul Ricard.

"I think we are looking for, eventually, more downforce to the detriment of the speed," Binotto told Autosport when asked which direction Ferrari's development will be heading.

"Even if the car will not be too efficient, [it will] give more downforce to get the tires working. That will be the direction to go."

For the whole season, Ferrari have been dominant in a straight line but give up a lot of speed in the corners, making them lose out on six of the eight available pole positions. The side has also not been able to get a race win yet this season.

"[In qualifying at Paul Ricard] we've seen how difficult to get the tires working. That is something we are focused on." GPblog