Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has confirmed an updated engine is part of the package coming for this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
The power unit has been in focus this season for its exceptional performance but there's also been a belief that issues have stopped the team from fully taking advantage of it.
On Baku's main straight, Mercedes was able to counteract the power deficit through gaining a slipstream in qualifying, and in the race, it was the German manufacturer that actually had the advantage.
Having also now lost the first four races to 1-2 finishes, Ferrari is throwing everything at closing the gap at the first European race of the season.
"We are currently behind in the championship and we have to catch up, which we know means that our development work will be the key to this season," Binotto noted.
"Having brought a new aerodynamic package to Baku, we will also bring some developments in this area to Barcelona.
"On top of that, we will have a new power unit that we are introducing ahead of schedule, as the second specification was due to be brought to Canada."
In addition, the Ferrari chief revealed fuel supplier Shell is also bringing new lubricants which are expected to enhance the performance.
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All this, Binotto hopes, will see what he considers as a small performance gap to Mercedes close.
“I think that, four races in the season, no win for Ferrari, four wins for Mercedes, no doubt that they are very strong, and certainly they’ve got, let me say, a slightly better car,” he said.
“But I think that the gap is not so big, and the points and the results are not reflecting the true potentials of the cars.
“I think that if you’ve got a car fast enough to score potentially the pole, you’ve got a good car overall,” Binotto added.
“In the race, yes, we were not as fast as them, but we didn’t finish 20 seconds behind.
“I think it’s something on which there is much to try to work and to close in in the near future.”
