Ferrari's under-performance in the opening round of the 2020 F1 season has incited the Italian outfit to bring forward to next weekend a series of updates for its SF1000 initially scheduled for Hungary.
With a car virtually unchanged since pre-season testing in Barcelona, the Scuderia found itself engulfed in the midfield in qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix, during which Sebastian Vettel failed to make the Q3 cut.
Leclerc salvaged a second-place finish on race day, thanks to a spirited drive and very lucky circumstances while Vettel finished a lowly P10 after a collision with McLaren's Carlos Sainz undermined the German's afternoon.
To remedy the aerodynamic flaws identified on its SF1000 after pre-season testing, Ferrari has devised a significant upgrade package which it intended to introduce next week in Hungary.
However, the Scuderia said on Monday that several updates have been brought forward to this week's Styrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
"The SF1000 didn’t measure up, even compared to expectations ahead of the event," said Ferrari.
"Because of this, development has already been going on at full pace for some time. This is in the hope of bringing forward to next weekend the introduction of the aerodynamic package scheduled for the Hungarian Grand Prix – or, at least, some of its components."
The implementation of the updates this week will allow Ferrari to conduct a back-to-back comparison on the same track with last weekend's performance, and thus validate the "direction of development".
But the Italian outfit isn't expecting the new components to produce a massive step forward.
"It’s not that these new parts are expected to completely bridge the gap compared to the front of the grid," it added.
"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."
©Ferrari
Despite the troubled times and the team's dim prospects for 2020, Ferrari boss Louis Camilleri remained confident in the Scuderia's ability to unite and improve its fortunes under the leadership of Mattia Binotto.
"We know there’s lots of work to do," he said. "This is certainly not the grid position that a team like Ferrari should have and we have to respond immediately.
"It’s clear that we have to improve on all fronts. The only solution is to react and I’m pleased by the immediate reaction and the work that Mattia and all his team are putting in at every level.
"This is not just to bring to the track today what was scheduled to be ready tomorrow, but also to speed up the programme of development for the coming races.
"This is the response of a united team which is rolling up its sleeves and facing the problems head on, without crying about it.
"We are at the start of a new cycle with a long term plan. Any setbacks will certainly not change our chosen course and I have every confidence in Mattia and the team in addressing our shortcomings."
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