New Scuderia Ferrari F1 team boss Frédéric Vasseur says rumors that Ferrari has found another 30bhp in its F1 power unit development this winter are a ‘joke’.
F1’s engine freeze regulations do not allow for performance development, but they do allow F1 teams to get more potential reliability improvements, with Italian media reporting that an increase of around 30 horsepower at Maranello equates to
However, Frédéric Vasseur hastily denied this figure, although he acknowledged an increase in reliability.
“As for the engine, I don’t know where the numbers come from, but it’s just a joke!” said Frédéric Vasseur.
“We’ve taken some steps and it’s just about reliability. I think the engine performance is absolutely fine. The problem is reliability and the first aim is to fix that. For now. It looks OK, but the reality on the track is on the other side.”
“I think there are some issues that teams have suffered, not only Ferrari. In terms of reliability, it’s also due to track operation, bounce, vibration, etc. In Bahrain, we will have a better image.
“I think it’s under control today and I think they’ve done a good job over the last few months.”
Ferrari appeared to be struggling to match Red Bull and Mercedes in developing their 2022 car, but Vasseur said he was unwilling to describe it as a weakness yet as he was unsure of the circumstances around him.
“Now that there is a cost cap, development is very often a strategic choice, whether to focus on next year’s car or on the current car,” says Frederic Vasseur.
“I wasn’t there, so I don’t want to make judgments about what happened in the past, but we’ll find out during the season.”
Frédéric Vasseur says he does not intend to make any immediate changes to Ferrari as Ferrari’s technical team needs time to understand how it works.
“No, it would be arrogant on my part to take action against the technical establishment after two weeks,” said Frédéric Vasseur.
“We’ve been talking about how the system can be improved, what the system’s weaknesses are, and trying to do a better job. But it’s not about big steps or big changes, it’s more about continuous improvement . “From my point of view it wouldn’t make sense.”
“I trust the people who are there at the moment and I want them to do the best they can. Yes, but I trust them.”
Mattia Vasseur, who replaced Mattia Binotto who lost his job after the team finished second in the Constructors’ Championship last season, is expected to aim higher this season. He admits that, but says not is by no means an unrealistic goal.
“It’s a natural target,” said Frédéric Vasseur.
“Being part of a first-class team, you can’t have a goal except to win at the end. That’s not ambitious. I think we have everything we need to do a good job and we have r goal is wrong to win without it.
Category: F1 / Ferrari
