Both Ferrari drivers offered positive feedback on the significant upgrades introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Friday practice was a data-gathering exercise for the Scuderia as Carlos Sainz ran the new parts in both sessions, while teammate Charles Leclerc used the previous spec in FP1 before switching for FP2.
The upgrade sees Ferrari move away from its original design concept with new sidepods more akin to the Aston Martin or Alpine, albeit with greater girth.
After Mercedes, #Ferrari is next to make a big shift in sidepod design, moving closer to a Red Bull-style concept
Barcelona image via Giorgio Piola#F1 #Formula1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/KwpsfhtkH5
— InsideRacing.com (@INSIDERACINGcom) June 2, 2023
There were also changes to the floor, mirrors and rear wing and Leclerc was happy in his first impression.
“We had a few new parts on the car and I think it’s a great track to test these new upgrades,” the Monegasque said.
“The feeling is quite okay. We still have a lot of work to do in order to optimise the package, but it felt pretty good.
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‘We are step-by-step trying to push more the car in places that we haven’t yet because we didn’t have the time.
“Just the normal process of having a new part and slowing going in the direction more.”
Though Ferrari wasn’t chasing lap times, Leclerc and Sainz ended Practice sixth and seventh, three-tenths shy of pacesetter Max Verstappen.
Asked about expectations for qualifying though, Charles admitted: “It’s very difficult to answer that question because it’s closer than ever, apart from Red Bull who are in a league of their own with the car, especially in race-pace.
“Everyone else seems to be more or less there. The one that will be in front will be the one that does the perfect lap, so it will be very close.”
Sainz, who also described the new Ferrari package as “good”, agreed, adding: “It’s going to be tight [in qualifying]. The field today was particularly tight.
“Obviously we don’t know fuel loads and engine modes but there were a few cars from the midfield joining the top teams and mixing it up with us. I expect it to be the same as in Monaco.
“It just shows the field is closing up and it’s going to be a good challenge in quali.”
