Auto Motor und Sport expert Michael Schmidt reports on the new Ferrari power unit (PU4), which Charles Leclerc used for the first time in the 2021 Russian Grand Prix at Sochi Autodrom:
“Ferrari has said the experiment was successful. The new Power Unit has delivered what was expected. Obviously they play it down, Mattia Binotto thinks that the advantage is small, but they always say that. Rumors say the gain is between 10-15hp.
What have they done?
The MGU-K, the battery and the control electronics are completely new. That was the token that they did not take over the winter. That was also important for next year, because next year the system will be used. They also wanted to have enough test time this year to change things if necessary. I think the most important thing is that they switched to a 800 volt system (from 400 volt to 800 volt). This has also required major modifications in the car.
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That’s why their customer teams have voluntarily decided not to take the new engine this year. Ferrari is on the way back to the top, especially if they now gain in power. Next year they will probably be able to change the combustion engine, the MGU-H and the turbocharger again. They have already shown this year that they are on the right path and I think if Ferrari manages to make a similar step next year, they are also engine-wise back on the level of Mercedes and Honda.”
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