Ferrari will update its SF90 F1 car for the Spanish Grand Prix rather than the Canadian Grand Prix

Ferrari hopes that an early update to its power unit at the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix will bring results as it brings forward its engine upgrade.

Teams normally bring their second power unit to the Canadian GP, the seventh race of the season. Drivers are only permitted to use three power units over a season, so both Ferrari drivers will want to make their remaining two engines last 17 races.

It could, however, revert back to its original engine later in the season to avoid a grid penalty.

“We are at the Spanish GP, a race in which most of the teams usually bring new developments, so we expect an improvement in performance from our opponents,” said technical director Mattia Binotto. 

“We are late in the league and we know that we must recover, and as far as we are concerned it is clear that development will be the key to this season. 

“After bringing a new aerodynamic package to Baku, we will also have news in Barcelona in this area.

“There will also be a new power unit anticipating the initial program that planned to introduce the second unit in Canada. 

“We were able to bring these developments here only thanks to a great team effort that shows how much the whole team is pushing to catch up.”

Average qualifying time over the first four races

More: MPH: where the teams stand after four races

Ferrari will also use a new oil from partner Shell “that will guarantee better performance”, according to Binotto.

 For this power unit Shell, in collaboration with the team, has developed a different oil that will guarantee better performance.

Sebastian Vettel added that Ferrari “must be careful not to make mistakes because it is too easy to ruin the tyres in [the last sector] and lose precious tenths. 

“With Ferrari I have often experienced very positive weekends in Barcelona, ​​although we still lack the victory here.”

Vettel also said that the circuit, redesigned in 2007, is “no longer as interesting as it used to be” with a chicane leading onto the final corner.

The Scuderia is 74 points behind Mercedes in the constructors’ championship.

Grand prix editor Mark Hughes recently wrote that Ferrari underperformed in Australia and Azerbaijan, leading to 1-2 finishes in the first four races for Mercedes.