Ferrari has been multiplying developments since the start of the season. A “very aggressive” strategy that impresses Charles Leclerc and should allow them to catch up with Mercedes.
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Ferrari does not intend to remain a spectator in the battle for the world titles. Approaching its home Grand Prix at Monza, the Scuderia is still 87 points behind Mercedes in the constructors’ championship, but its development pace clearly shows its determination to close the gap.
Since the start of the season, the engineers in Maranello have introduced many new features on the SF-26 of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. A particularly aggressive strategy that contrasts with Mercedes’ approach and which Leclerc considers one of the most encouraging signs for the rest of the championship.
Ferrari chains developments
Miami, Barcelona, Austria, Great Britain, Hungary then Netherlands: Ferrari has introduced new features at many events since the beginning of the year. And this offensive should continue at Monza with an evolution of the power unit made possible by the additional development opportunities granted under the ADUO.
This pace strongly contrasts with that of Mercedes, whose last significant evolution dates back to the Canadian Grand Prix in May. At the same time, McLaren has also significantly reduced its gap and has just won two consecutive races with Lando Norris.
Ferrari therefore intends to maintain the pressure by continuing to develop its car as quickly as possible.
“We have a very clear development program and there are still many things we want to improve,” explains Leclerc.
The engine remains the main weakness
The first half of the season mainly allowed Ferrari to precisely identify the areas where it needs to progress. And for Leclerc, the main deficit of the SF-26 is undeniable.
“The main limitations of the first part of the season are very clear. The engine and the power we currently have compared to Mercedes and Red Bull represent the area where we are most behind. So that’s what we are focusing on.”
The Monegasque nevertheless points out that the different departments in Maranello now have a common direction. The development of the engine, chassis, and aerodynamics follows a defined program, which allows Ferrari to move forward without constantly having to question its choices.
“There are the engine, chassis, and aerodynamics teams, but the program is established and we know where we want to go. That’s a good thing.”
A better correlation that changes everything
Leclerc is also satisfied with Ferrari’s ability to reproduce on track the results obtained during simulations. An element that had regularly complicated the development of the previous generation cars.
With the old ground effect cars, their proximity to the track could notably lead to behaviors difficult to anticipate. Some promising wind tunnel solutions did not always produce the same results once installed on the car.
“I don’t think we had particularly bad surprises during the first half of the season. With the previous generation of cars and their proximity to the ground, it was complicated. Sometimes, what we got in the wind tunnel did not translate on track.”
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“This year, we don’t really have this problem and it’s very positive for the development of the next evolutions that we want to bring to the car.”
“A very aggressive approach”
Beyond the quantity of new parts, Leclerc especially appreciates the mindset adopted by Ferrari. The Scuderia tries to explore the limits of the new regulations and propose original concepts.
Among them are notably the rear wing nicknamed “Macarena” and a small aerodynamic appendage placed around the exhaust outlet. Solutions that illustrate, according to Leclerc, a renewed willingness to innovate rather than simply follow trends imposed by rivals.
“It’s very impressive. We have adopted a very aggressive approach this year compared to others. First in terms of innovation, and I think it’s a very positive sign. It shows that we innovate and try to find solutions around the regulations.”
Leclerc praises the work done in Maranello
This aggressiveness is not only about the design office. To introduce so many developments in short timeframes, Ferrari also had to significantly accelerate the production of new parts.
Leclerc emphasizes the effort made behind the scenes by the teams in Maranello so that the new features can arrive on circuits as quickly as possible.
“Then, there is this aggressive, even very aggressive program, to bring developments. I think production has done an incredible job during this first half of the season by working at full capacity so that we can receive the parts as early as possible.”
In a still recent regulation, each development can produce a significant gain, making this ability to accelerate development particularly valuable.
“It makes a huge difference in a year like this, where we are still very early in development. Every development you bring can make a big difference. So we will continue to push this way during the second half of the season.”
Ferrari wants to maintain pressure on Mercedes
The situation remains delicate in the championship. Ferrari is still 87 points behind Mercedes in the constructors’ standings, while Hamilton is 59 points behind Antonelli in the drivers’ standings. The Briton has the same number of points as Russell but remains behind him on tiebreak due to the two wins of the Mercedes driver against one for Hamilton.
However, the recent momentum suggests a much more contested second half of the season. Ferrari continues to aggressively develop its SF-26, McLaren has just found the path to victory again, and Mercedes no longer enjoys the overwhelming advantage seen at the start of the year.
For Leclerc, Ferrari now has two essential elements to continue its comeback: a clearly defined technical direction and the ability to quickly produce the solutions imagined in Maranello. Now it remains to turn this “aggressiveness” into results and reduce the 87 points still separating the Scuderia from Mercedes.
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