Ferrari is set to unveil a slate of major upgrades at Carlos Sainz’s home race this weekend, as they look to get back in the title picture after a slow start to the year.
The Italian team has dropped from fighting Red Bull for victories last season to struggling to secure top 5 places after a series of messy weekends.
Ferrari had been thought to be a contender in Monaco due to their strength in slow corners, compared with Red Bull’s RB19, but they failed to deliver, ending in P6 and P8 on Sunday.
“I got a little frustrated – I’m not going to try to fool you,” Sainz said.
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“But it’s better that these things happen this year, when clearly the car is not where we want it to be.
“We must continue learning from these situations, from these moments of tension and doubts that we have from time to time and we must continue to improve.”
Sainz will be hoping to have a better weekend at his home Grand Prix around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, banking on an upcoming upgrade package,
Ferrari had been planning to bring the new parts at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix but its cancellation saw them delay the upgrades until Barcelona, believing that Monaco was not the right track to test a new design.
READ: Carlos Sainz growing frustrated with Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton rumours swirl
Going into Barcelona, Ferrari is stuck in P4 of the Constructors Standings on just 90 points, over 159 points behind title-leaders Red Bull, leaving them unlikely to challenge for the trophy this year.
Leclerc and Sainz are also going to struggle to mount a challenge in the Drivers’ title race without substantial improvements to their design, as they sit in P7 and P6 of the standings respectively.
Max Verstappen is currently riding high on 144 points, with Sergio Perez sat in P2 with 105, suggesting the title battle could be a two-horse race between the two Red Bull drivers.