Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff believes Ferrari do hold an advantage at this stage having found the “sweet spot” with the SF90.
While the German manufacturer has featured pretty low on the timing screen, Ferrari dominated the first two days before other teams moved clear thanks to laps on softer tyre compounds on Day 3.
Traditionally, the asterisk always applied to pre-season is to never get suckered in by lap times but even so, Wolff appeared pretty sure the Scuderia has capitalised on the new 2019 regulations.
“Of course we have not had a huge rule change from the previous year to this year, but you can see two different aerodynamic concepts at the moment,” the Austrian told Germany’s RTL.
“At the moment it looks like Ferrari has found that sweet spot. The car is quick on one lap and the long-run too.”
Both Ferrari and unofficial junior team Alfa Romeo feature a unique front wing which has tried to recreate the outwash effect that was meant to be stopped by the new design rules.
Meanwhile, Mercedes has opted for a more conventional layout with the five allowed elements.
“Now it’s important to analyse where the advantages and disadvantages are of the respective concepts,” Wolff continued.
“But after only three days, they are very fast – faster than us – and we have to respond now.”
