The technical department of Scuderia Ferrari is working hard to get back to the top and try to reduce the performance deficit to Mercedes in the next season, as recent news is suggesting that Ferrari’s 2017 engine could achieve and exceed up to 1000 brake horsepower, figures of which haven’t been seen in Formula One since the 80’s and the turbo specs that were used at that time.
According to a report in Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Ferrari engineers have been designing the engine in a new direction in an attempt to match the speed of the dominant Mercedes, which has been obvious especially throughout qualifying during the last season. Code-named ‘668’, the new car will be officially revealed on February 24, as the Italian team in focusing mainly on improving and updating the internal combustion part of the system.
The latest news on the 2017 Ferrari car also confirm that the team is currently developing a innovative multi-jet ignition system, engineered in partnership with the Mahle technology company, which should allow the Maranello side to make better use of the MGU-H on the new car as compared to last year. The technical staff is also working on a new gearbox, with a different approach from the 2016 system, when the rear suspension was located between the differential and the gearbox, but did not bring the expected results because the solution did not prove very efficient in maximizing traction at the rear axle.
This year will mark a decade since a Ferrari driver last managed to win the Formula One World championship and the major regulation changes may give the Italian side the opportunity to improve after a disappointing 2016 season. President Sergio Marchionne will inevitably expect to see a much more competitive Ferrari car in 2017 and for the team to make the most of the new regulations, in the hope that Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen will finally be able to capitalize their talent and driving skills in order to challenge Mercedes and Red Bull for victories.
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