Ferrari Formula 1 team principal Mattia Binot𝔍to says Mercedes’ assertion that it has been running lower engine modes throughout pre-season testing is “not correct”.

The Italian squad has changed its approach for this season's winter test and decided to focus on better 🦄understanding its 2020 car concept rather than posting fast lap times as it has done in previous years.

Ferrari has been well d🍎own in the timesheets throughout the opening four days of running at Barcelona, leading Mercedes to suspect the Scuderia has been hiding its true pace.

But when asked to clarify Ferr𒉰ari’s stance, B﷽inotto flatly denied the suggestions.

“This seems very much what we are doing but it’s ཧnot correct,” he in♑sisted.

“I think we’re really focused on ourselves, understand𒈔 the car, correlating the data with what we have back home.

“The first week of testing last week was foඣcusing on that one, car understand💜ing mapping.

“This week 💫will be a bit different, today starting work on set-up, trying to optimise it and we will try to push more for performance🌜 later this week to see what we have.”

Asked why Ferrari had opted to revise its approach, Binott♏o replied: “Be🌠cause in the end we always want to try and improve ourselves.

"We did some mistakes last year and the w🌞ay we approach🍸ed it, especially from reliability tests and or for functionality and understanding of the car.

“We are still a young team and it’s important for us that we are improving. And that means learnin💞g from꧂ the past and adapting better.

“But it is not to play any games or whatever.”

Binotto downplayed Ferrari’s chances following the first week of testing and believes his side will start the season behind its rivals in♎ ter🌠ms of relative performance.