Charles Leclerc is set to be given Ferrari’s new-spec engine ahead of the Miami Grand Prix as the Scuderia seek to keep pace with Red Bull.
After Carlos Sainz was given a power boost ahead of the sprint weekend in Imola, Leclerc will now be the recipient of an improved power unit that will feature improved acceleration and a new MGU-K, the system that takes energy from the rear axle and converts it into power.
The engine Sainz used in the early part of the 2022 season is still in working condition, which is crucial for the Maranello side, who can use it during free practice in Florida and avoid putting extra strain on the second-generation power unit.
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This is vital for the team’s $140 million spending cap, because sparing the new engine as much as they can help them avoid incurring unnecessary expenses, so one would assume they might be trying a similar cost-effective approach with the 24-year-old.
The evolution is set to help Ferrari keep up with the magnificent Honda-manufactured Red Bull engine on the straights, and the Milton Keynes-based side are even more slippery in a straight line than they were at the beginning of the year after introducing an upgrade package that lost them a suspected 5kg in weight.
What might also help Ferrari’s cause in that department is a small upgrade designed to counteract “porpoising,” which is now an omnipotent threat to the teams under the new technical regulations that see the cars run significantly lower to the ground.
Generally, Ferrari have managed that well, unlike Mercedes who have suffered from an “undriveable” car in the opening few rounds of the year, but the nauseating head movement is something they would like to be rid of.
Therefore, a new skid has been implemented on the rear of the car that should stabilise the chassis and prevent excessive bouncing.
Theoretically, that will aid their cause on the straights and in the corners with more stability.
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The Italian giants need a response after the horrible time they had of it at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after Sainz crashed both in qualifying and on the opening lap, before Leclerc threw away a podium with a collision of his own with the barrier.
Red Bull capitalised on their rivals’ woes, claiming a one-two as the imperious Max Verstappen led home Sergio Perez, and they now sit 11 points behind Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, while the Dutchman rose to second in the Drivers’ Standings, 27 points adrift of the Monegasque.