Ferrari has suffered a disappointing start to their 2023 season after last year saw them fight Red Bull for the title in a number of close races.
Charles Leclerc has suffered two DNFs, one due to reliability issues and another after a collision with Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin.
Carlos Sainz has completed all three races but was stripped of points at the Australian Grand Prix with a last lap penalty for causing a collision with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
After the opening three races, Ferrari sits in P4 of the Constructors’ Standings, leaving fans wondering what has happened to the championship-worthy car from last year.
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The four-week extended April break had initially left Ferrari and its supporters believing that the team can return to the factory and address their performance failures.
However, Gazzetta dello Sport has reported that the upcoming upgrades will not do enough to solve the team’s woes.
“The developments that will be seen in a week’s time in Baku do not form part of the package of modifications defined to solve the problems that have so far prevented us from extracting the full potential from the Ferrari SF-23,” the Italian outlet claimed.
“The targeted development plan will unfold between Imola and Montmelò, with perhaps a sort of preview in Miami with regards to the wings.”
With Sainz on 20 points, less than a third of title-leader Max Verstappen’s 69 and Leclerc, who was runner up in the 2022 Drivers’ championship, on six, Ferrari will need a lot of luck if they are to have a comeback this season.
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The poor performance from Ferrari will do little to quell the rumours that Leclerc is eyeing an exit at the Italian outfit, as he looks for a team that can deliver his first world title.
The Monegasque has been linked to Mercedes and Red Bull but either move would require those teams to drop a drive mid-contract, which could be a costly move that they aren’t willing to make.
Sainz, on the other hand, seems content at Ferrari, even if he isn’t at the front of the grid, with the Spaniard committed to driving for the team for many years to come.