More potential for Ferrari PU once they are sure it can last over 5000 km – AMuS. More potential for Ferrari PU.

In the latest episode of its Formula 1 podcast, German automobile magazine ‘Auto Motor und Sport’ reports on the new Ferrari power unit, as both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are now using the second engine, for which the Maranello team also received the FIA permission to make some changes as a result of some reliability problems:

“We hear that Ferrari can go one step further with the pre-ignition if they are sure that the power unit will last over 4000/5000 km.” – Michael Schmidt said in the latest episode of the AMuS Formula 1 podcast, confirming that there is more potential there.

Scuderia Ferrari and their customer teams are therefore using the second power unit now. Team Principal Mattia Binotto told Michael Schmidt that it was a planned upgrade, because there were some reliability problems. The reliability issue was known to the Maranello engineers before the start of the 2022 Formula One season andonce there were signs of problems on the power unit of Carlos Sainz, Ferrari became a bit nervous and decided to use the second engine, as confirmed by Auto Motor und Sport.

Ferrari’s original plan was to introduce the new hybrid system with this second engine, but with the early introduction, that has to wait for power unit 3 now. Mercedes engineers told Michael Schmidt that changing to PU2 this early, it is certain that the Maranello team needs more than three engines in the 2022 Formula 1 season.

A small summary of other topics discussed on the AMuS episode after the Miami Grand Prix:

• Michael Schmidt says Formula 1’s popularity in the USA has very much increased. Mario Andretti told him that people who approach him do not ask him questions about NASCAR or Indy anymore but about F1.
• Alfa Romeo has a good car, they have the porpoising under control and thus can develop well. Their big first upgrade in Imola worked immediately. Michael Schmidt believes that the upgrade for Barcelona will work well too. He thinks Alfa Romeo are the fourth best team, behind Mercedes.
• the ‘Auto Motor und Sport’ reporter thinks that Ferrari is the favourite for Barcelona, unless the new upgrade fails. The top speed advantage of Red Bull is not crucial there and Ferrari doesn’t have to countermeasure against it like it was the case in Imola and Miami.