Rosberg: Ferrari's 2019 F1 car in the wrong place aerodynamically
Ferrari's 2019 Formula 1 car has been pitched "in the wrong place aerodynamically" and it will take "a lot of work" to fix that, says 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg
The Italian team has taken a different aerodynamic approach to Mercedes, adopting a lower-drag philosophy compared to its rival in addition to divergence over front-wing concepts following the new-for-2019 aero rules.
That has translated into a straightline speed advantage for Ferrari, buts its balance has suffered through the corners and Mercedes has swept to a trio of one-two finishes at the start of the season, the first time that has happened since Williams did so in 1992.
Assessing the Chinese Grand Prix on his YouTube channel, ex-Mercedes driver Rosberg said: "Mercedes are big, big favourites at the moment. They're just looking so strong.
"Ferrari's just struggling. Ferrari have pitched their car in the wrong place aerodynamically.
"They have way too little drag and just way not enough downforce in the corners.
"That's where they're losing a lot of time. It's not ideal for the fastest possible lap.
"So they're just in the wrong place with their car."
Mercedes estimated that Ferrari was gaining as much as half a second on the straights in Bahrain.
However, in China, which has an ultra-long back straight, Mercedes locked out the front row in qualifying and defeated Ferrari with relative ease in the race.
Rosberg believes Ferrari tried to compensate by adding downforce to the rear of the car but was unable to do so effectively.
"They were trying this weekend to put on some more rear wing but they didn't have the bigger rear wing they needed," said Rosberg.
"They need to produce that but also just putting on rear wing is not an efficient way because it's just a 1:1 'increase downforce, increase drag'.
"That's not the way to go. The way to go is to take it from other places in the car, like front wings, endplates.
"That's what that really need to focus on now. But that's a lot of work. It's going to take time, it's not great."
The next race of the season takes place in two weeks in Azerbaijan, which has an even longer flat-out run from the end of the final sector all the way through to the first corner.
However, the middle part of the lap comprises several slow, more traditional street circuit corners.
"[Ferrari is] just going to be strong on those tracks with a lot of straights," said Rosberg.
"Baku, I'm not really sure. There's so many slow corners they're going to lose out a lot and lots of straights where they're going to gain.
"It's very difficult to judge if that's going to be a track where they're going to be ahead.
"Let's see. I'd put Mercedes ahead at the moment everywhere, even Barcelona."
Autosport says
Jake Boxall-Legge, Technical Editor
It's no secret that Ferrari looked in good form before the season began but, post-China, it seems that it has taken its eye off the ball.
The car, outwardly, at least, seems to be in the same specification it began the season in. Mercedes, by comparison, has brought small updates to each race. It's that level of introspection and desire to improve that has brought the Silver Arrows five consecutive championships, and why Ferrari has fallen short every time.
Enzo Ferrari's old adage was that "aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines" but, to be successful in modern F1, you have to have both. For a team trying to shed the image of breeding a negative, archaic culture, it's curious that it seems to have reprised a mantra from the old days.
Rosberg's right in that Ferrari is lacking in the aero department. Neither Vettel nor Leclerc had the assured pace in the long-radius corners - where downforce is key. It did well in Bahrain, but that's a circuit dominated by straights and zig-zag corners. Shanghai frequently forces the car into yaw for longer durations - and it seems that it's in those conditions where Ferrari struggles.
It seems Ferrari rested its laurels on the extreme front wing, and hasn't been quite as reactive in making changes as Mercedes has with its own configuration. Adding more wing in Shanghai will have eased the rear a little bit, but did nothing to alleviate its problems.
On the bright side, Ferrari now has a clearer picture of its weaknesses, but the team is already 57 points behind Mercedes. So, the Italian team's updates in Barcelona must be overwhelmingly game-changing.
Of course, Mercedes will downplay the next race in Baku - after all, with such a long straight, Ferrari must surely be the overarching favourite to streak to victory in Azerbaijan. But the second half of the lap around the castle requires an assured level of downforce - one that the Mercedes W10 has.
Norris: McLaren's Chinese GP race pace best outside F1's top three
Bold one-stop Ricciardo strategy made Renault pace look 'miserable'
Vasseur "convinced" Ferrari has everything it needs to win F1 title
New Ferrari Formula 1 boss Fred Vasseur is “convinced” the team has everything it needs to win the championship, and that targeting anything less would be a “lack of ambition.”
Daytona 24: Porsche leads Acura in night practice
Matt Campbell put the #7 Penske Porsche on top in third practice for the Daytona 24 Hours, just 0.172s ahead of Filipe Albuquerque in the Wayne Taylor Racing Acura.
Daytona 24: Westbrook’s Ganassi Cadillac tops second practice
Richard Westbrook ensured Cadillac’s new V-LMDh snagged top spot in second practice for the Daytona 24 Hours, ahead of the #10 Wayne Taylor Racing Andretti Autosport Acura.
Auer suffers back injury in Daytona 24 practice shunt
Mercedes driver Lucas Auer has suffered a back injury and been taken to hospital following a violent crash in opening practice for this weekend's Daytona 24 Hours.
The crucial tech changes F1 teams must adapt to in 2023
Changes to the regulations for season two of Formula 1's ground-effects era aim to smooth out last year’s troubles and shut down loopholes. But what areas have been targeted, and what impact will this have?
Are these the 50 quickest drivers in F1 history?
Who are the quickest drivers in Formula 1 history? LUKE SMITH asked a jury of experienced and international panel of experts and F1 insiders. Some of them have worked closely with F1’s fastest-ever drivers – so who better to vote on our all-time top 50? We’re talking all-out speed here rather than size of trophy cabinet, so the results may surprise you…
One easy way the FIA could instantly improve F1
OPINION: During what is traditionally a very quiet time of year in the Formula 1 news cycle, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been generating headlines. He’s been commenting on massive topics in a championship that loves them, but also addressing necessary smaller changes too. Here we suggest a further refinement that would be a big boon to fans
How can McLaren keep hold of Norris?
Lando Norris is no longer the young cheeky-chappy at McLaren; he’s now the established ace. And F1's big guns will come calling if the team can’t give him a competitive car. Here's what the team needs to do to retain its prize asset
What difference did F1's fastest pitstops of 2022 make?
While a quick pitstop can make all the difference to the outcome of a Formula 1 race, most team managers say consistency is more important than pure speed. MATT KEW analyses the fastest pitstops from last season to see which ones – if any – made a genuine impact
When F1 ‘holiday’ races kept drivers busy through the winter
Modern Formula 1 fans have grown accustomed to a lull in racing during winter in the northern hemisphere. But, as MAURICE HAMILTON explains, there was a time when teams headed south of the equator rather than bunkering down in the factory. And why not? There was fun to be had, money to be made and reputations to forge…
What Porsche social media frenzy says about F1’s manufacturer allure
Porsche whipped up a frenzy thanks to a cryptic social media post last week and, although it turned out to be a false alarm, it also highlighted why manufacturers remain such an important element in terms of the attraction that they bring to F1. It is little wonder that several other manufacturers are bidding for a slice of the action
Why the new Williams boss shouldn’t avoid ‘Mercedes B-team’ comparisons
OPINION: Williams has moved to replace the departed Jost Capito by appointing former Mercedes chief strategist James Vowles as its new team principal. But while he has sought to play down the idea of moulding his new squad into a vision of his old one, some overlap is only to be expected and perhaps shouldn't be shied away from
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.