Ferrari’s focus on 2019 car “will be key” for 2020 development

Mattia Binotto has said that Ferrari's increase in development of their 2019 SF90 car “will be key” for a better understanding for 2020 due to the regulations being the same before the bug change in 2021.

The Scuderia were expected to be the team to beat at Spa and Monza with their quicker power and straight-line speed, which they delivered on, but an upgrade package brought in at Singapore reduced their demand for power circuits to be competitive.
 
The package was focused on aerodynamics and included a new nose, floor and diffuser, leading Charles Leclerc to a third pole in Singapore, adding a fourth in Russia, while Sebastian Vettel took his first win.
 
Binnot said to Autosport when asked about the upgrade package’s iimportance for next year: "Or vice-versa - maybe this is where the upgrades of next year have been transposed on the current car.

"On the current car, the regulations being the same for next year it will certainly be of interest.

"Whatever we are building on this season, in terms of understanding, will be key for next year as well.

"That's why we are still focusing or putting effort on 2019, not only because we're seeking victories but because we know that a good understanding of the overall car performance in this season will be to the benefit of next season."

At the start of the season downforce was a huge area of weakness for Ferrari but the recent upgrades have given hope that the team do not need to radically change their 2020 designs.

"On the front wing, I think some are copying us at the moment, more than us [copying] the others," he added.

"So I think that the next year's car will be a development of the current one.

"If you look back and count the missed opportunities and victories I don't think we're on the wrong side of the sum, of the balance.

"There have been other reasons why this season we've not performed as expected. It's not only the car concept.

"By the time the weaknesses were addressed we can be quite competitive and I think the last races have shown it."