Ferrari: Design change opens 'promising door' for development

Frederic Vasseur says Ferrari's decision to change the design concept of the sidepods on its SF-23 car was a "tough" call but it is one that opens a "promising door" for future development.

Ferrari unveiled in Barcelona revamped sidepods on its contender that are a move away from the waterslide in-wash profile it introduced last season and towards a more Red Bull-inspired downwash-style design.

Carlos Sainz was the sole recipient of the new component in Friday's opening practice session while Charles Leclerc sampled the change in FP2.

"It's for us the opportunity to open a new door for the development for the future, and it is quite promising," commented Vasseur.

"It means that we have committed on this way, and let's see what the next weeks will bring to us. I think it was a tough decision, but it was a decision."

• Read also: A detailed rundown of F1 team's upgrades in Barcelona

Commenting on his early assessment of the sidepods, Leclerc said that the feeling was "quite okay".

"I mean, we still have a lot of work to do in order to optimise that new package, but it felt pretty good," the Monegasque added.

"I think step-by-step we are trying to push more and more the car and to go in places that we haven't yet because we didn't have the time."

Ferrari's quest to improve its car's pace in race trim and improve tyre degradation should benefit from the design shift insists Vasseur.

"From this upgrade, we're expecting a step forward, not a huge one, but a step forward," he said. "And also to open some doors for the future in terms of development.

"We will have other upgrades coming in the next couple of races and it's an opportunity also to take another direction. But even with this one, we are expecting to do a step forward."

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