Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes its Formula 1 rivals are currently ahead in terms of performance when assessing the pecking order in the closing stages of the first pre-season test but feels the It♊alian manufacturer has plenty more to come.

In a change to its testing approach, Ferrari has been focusing purely on setup and dialling in the SF1000 rather than searching for performance early on. The team’s 2020 F1 car has targeted a step up in downforce while also offering greater setup flexibility to cate𝓰r for its two drivers Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel, areas Binotto is confident Ferrari has improved on.

Binotto has confirmed Ferrari won’t target any performance-focused running until next week’s second test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya but accepts whe🌞n comparing its progress to its front-running F1𒁃 rivals Mercedes and Red Bull he fears the Italian squad is currently on the backfoot.

“I am not as optimistic as last year, some of the others are faste📖r than us at the moment I believe, how much faster is really difficult to judge and I will go through all the data in the next days but I don’t think𝄹 we are as fast as them at the moment,” Binotto said.

“Do we have any concerns? Certainly, yes, when you are not as fast as you would l🏅ike to ꦏbe.

“But I think it is too early to define it and understand it. These three days have been really important for us, because at least we have collected all the data and have a clear picture and better understan💮ding.”

Binotto ꦿremains relaxed with the second three-day test to come next week, plus the full 2020 F1 race campaign, and says the team has time and resources to pull off a turnaround.

“What will be even more important is to understand that we a♎re developing the car in the rig🔥ht direction but it is a very long season with 22 races potentially so I think there will be time to recover eventually,” he said. “Let’s wait for next week and Australia until we assess properly the true performance of everybody.

“I think it is simply about looking at the delta pace and eventually what we assess with fuel loads and engine modes. Looking at the picture at the front comparing it to ourselves, I t෴hink we are not as fast as them.

“I think it is difficult to say because weꦇ are not looking at performance yet, we have not optimise✱d the car. That will be clearer next week.”