Ferrari bring forward car upgrades for Styrian Grand Prix

Leclerc salvaged a podium in Austria when others fell out or were penalized – pure luck

Ferrari are bringing forward some planned upgrades to their car after a disappointing showing at the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix. The latest Mattia Binotto car was not only a second off the Mercedes, but it was also nearly a second slower than Ferrari had been at the same track last year, when Leclerc was on pole position.

At this weekend's Styrian Grand Prix, Ferrari will introduce some of the parts originally scheduled for the subsequent race in Hungary.

"We have to respond immediately," chief executive officer Louis Camilleri said.

"We know there's lots of work to do. This is certainly not the grid position that a team like Ferrari should have.

"It's clear that we have to improve on all fronts. The only solution is to react."

The car's main problem was a lack of speed on the straights, where it was losing 0.7 seconds a lap to Mercedes.

"It's not that these new parts are expected to completely bridge the gap compared to the front of the grid.

"But the progress in terms of lap time could allow the team to move up the order and put the drivers in a better condition to be able to display their talent.

"Moreover, it's about checking that the chosen direction of development is the right one, precisely because it will be possible to do a true back-to-back on every upgrade."