Kimi Antonelli believes that Ferrari has closed its gap to Mercedes in a straight line thanks to its new engine. The battle for pole position promises to be tight at Monza.
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Has Ferrari erased one of its main weaknesses with an engine upgrade? According to Kimi Antonelli, the first practice sessions of the Italian Grand Prix provide a particularly encouraging answer for the Scuderia.
Ferrari chose its home race to introduce a new version of its power unit. An important development as the Maranello team seeks to continue its comeback and add a third victory to the two wins already achieved this season.
And according to the championship leader, Friday’s data shows that Ferrari has made a significant leap.
Ferrari now on par with Mercedes in a straight line
For much of the first half of the season, Mercedes was the benchmark on the grid. One of the main strengths of the W17 was notably its efficiency in a straight line, while Ferrari regularly admitted losing ground in this area.
The situation seems to have changed at Monza.
“Ferrari has clearly taken a step forward with its new engine and now, the speeds are identical,” says Antonelli after Friday’s practice.
A particularly significant observation on the Italian circuit. With its huge straights and low aerodynamic downforce, Monza immediately exposes the differences in power and efficiency between the cars.
If Ferrari has truly caught up with Mercedes in this area, the threat posed by the SF-26 could become much more important.
“We know how good their car is in the corners”
The problem for Mercedes is that straight-line speed was precisely one of the main areas where it held an advantage over Ferrari.
Antonelli believes that the Scuderia already has a car particularly strong in corners. By combining this quality with a top speed now comparable to that of Mercedes, Ferrari could have a much more complete package.
“We know how good their car is in the corners,” continues the Italian. “So it is certain that the battle for pole will be very close tomorrow.”
Friday’s results lend credibility to his analysis. Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in FP1 before finishing second in FP2 behind George Russell.
Ferrari and Mercedes thus appear as two serious candidates for pole, even if the hierarchy could still change after the final adjustments made before Saturday.
A particularly important upgrade for Ferrari
The new power unit is the second upgrade introduced by Ferrari this season under the additional development opportunities allowed by the ADUO system.
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The Scuderia had identified its engine deficit as one of its main weaknesses against Mercedes and Red Bull for several months. Charles Leclerc himself had admitted before Monza that Ferrari was focusing a significant part of its efforts on this area.
The initial data therefore seems encouraging. Lewis Hamilton also praised the progress of the new engine at low speed, although he pointed out a significant deficit in the straights compared to Russell during FP2.
The setups used by the different cars and energy management will therefore need to be analyzed before drawing definitive conclusions. But Antonelli’s observation shows that Mercedes is taking the progress made by its rival very seriously.
An unusual Friday for Antonelli
The championship leader experienced a first day quite different from his usual routine. Condemned to start from the back of the grid on Sunday after fitting a completely new power unit on his Mercedes, Antonelli had no reason to prioritize pure one-lap performance.
The team therefore mainly focused its program on long runs to prepare for the comeback that awaits him in the race.
“It’s incredible to be here and the support is exceptional,” rejoices the Italian, who is racing his home Grand Prix. “Today was a day a bit different from usual, much more focused on long runs.”
An unusual situation for a driver generally focused on qualifying preparation.
“It was a bit strange, I’m not going to lie, but overall, it was a good day. We gathered a lot of data and I now look forward to seeing what the next days hold.”
Antonelli could still play a role in qualifying
Even if his own qualifying position will have little importance due to his penalty, Antonelli could still influence the fight for pole.
The Mercedes driver has already confirmed having discussed with his team the possibility of providing a slipstream to George Russell. On a circuit where this advantage can represent several tenths, his role could become valuable to help his teammate face Ferrari.
The situation would be particularly paradoxical: championship leader but condemned to the back of the grid, Antonelli could help one of his main rivals in the overall standings.
One thing seems clear after Friday’s practice: Ferrari has caught Mercedes’ attention. And if Antonelli’s analysis is confirmed, the Scuderia may have eliminated one of the last weaknesses that prevented it from competing on equal terms with the Silver Arrows.
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