Charles Leclerc says Ferrari remains to be assessing whether or not if the facility unit used on the System 1 Italian Grand Prix could be saved, with a grid penalty a dwell risk if the group can’t get better it, whereas additionally flagging a deeper difficulty with the Scuderia’s one-lap tempo that has nothing to do with reliability.
Leclerc had an ADUO improved Ferrari energy unit fitted in Monza, however by no means received the chance to make use of it in race trim after his dramatic early crash at Parabolica, sending him hurtling into the boundaries.
The ability unit was subsequently eliminated, with an older specification engine fitted for F1’s maiden go to to the MADring final weekend.
Leclerc has now offered a brief, non commital replace on the standing of the Monza energy unit.
“For now, of what I do know, they’re nonetheless checking it; we’ll see,” he instructed media. “I imply, I don’t know but. If we handle to put it aside, then that’s nice. If not, then most likely that’s a penalty sooner or later.”
Charles Leclerc reveals Ferrari race tempo deficit
Previous the speedy reliability query, Leclerc used the chance to level to a sample he sees as extra structural: Ferrari’s qualifying efficiency is lagging its race tempo, and that hole is costing the group on Sundays earlier than the race even begins.
“For positive, I feel our automotive is a powerful race automotive, however we simply must attempt to perceive learn how to unlock extra efficiency in qualifying,” he stated.
Leclerc traced the deficit to how the facility unit deploys vitality over a single lap versus a race stint. “We all know that deployment is much more of a battle, I really feel, on a Saturday than on a Sunday, and for that, we don’t have any fast fixes,” he stated — a uncommon admission that the problem isn’t one thing Ferrari expects to unravel by a single improve or setup tweak.
He added that even marginal features would matter: “However no matter we will do to attempt to achieve a little bit of efficiency on the Saturday can be very useful for our race outcome.”
Taken collectively, the feedback describe a group safe in its race-day bundle however nonetheless looking for solutions over one lap — a spot that, compounded by a attainable grid penalty, may blunt Ferrari’s potential to transform Sunday power into outcomes.
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