Ferrari are set to bring upgrades to their 2022 car ahead of the first European race of the season at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, according to the Italian edition of Motorsport.com.
They will join Red Bull in updating their challenger to help them save weight as a result of the substantially heavier cars under the new technical regulations, while Mercedes are set to install a new floor to mitigate their struggles after the arrival of the ground effect aerodynamics.
It should be noted that Ferrari are understood to have decided to split the upgrades between the two races to ensure that Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz receive the new spec parts at the same time.
The Silver Arrows also expected to use a new rear wing in Melbourne this weekend, but Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto is wary of the $140 million budget cap this season, so he is acutely aware of the need for circumspection before spending money on new parts.
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“It’s not just a question of being ready to bring new parts, with the budgets capped we have to be sure that we don’t spend all our money in the first races of the season,” Binotto said.
“There are therefore no major developments to be expected during the next races and in particular in Melbourne, but we will do it as soon as possible.
“These capped budgets will have a significant influence on the pace of development. I think that’s a key element and what concerns me is having the right approach because it could be decisive in this development race.”
The Scuderia also seem to have more power available to use if they feel they need it, but they did not deploy it in Saudi Arabia due to their focus on ensuring performance in the tighter sections of the racetrack.
“Yes, we knew that Ferrari would start cautiously in using high-speed power,” said Italian journalist Giuliano Duchessa.
“This does not mean that it will increase it now, on the contrary, managing is the plan, i.e. increasing the power only on tracks where the car should shine less. But that doesn’t seem the case in Jeddah.”
The Albert Park Steet Circuit is expected to become a much quicker track this year due to the changes made to the layout.
In particular, Turns Three and 13 have been deepened to provide greater overtaking opportunities, while the chicane at Turns Six and Seven has been slightly opened out to make for a smoother transition onto the now flat-out run through 8, 9 and 10 following the abolition of the slow chicane in the middle sector.
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The result is that the circuit will become around five seconds faster, making it an entirely different proposition to the first 24 races held in Melbourne.
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has recently praised Ferrari for their adaptability, and Motorsport.com report that Ferrari’s calculations do not forecast an adverse effect on their aerodynamic package as a result of the track changes.
They believe that the first updates of the season will be gradually introduced in Imola and Barcelona, meaning that we should not expect anything new out of Maranello in Miami.
Ferrari have taken a one-two and four podium finishes from the opening two rounds of 2022, and Charles Leclerc leads Carlos Sainz in the Drivers’ Standings.