The Ferrari engine continues to impress everyone during the F1 tests in Bahrain, and now the first compliments are starting to arrive from rival teams.
The Ferrari power unit keeps racking up mile after mile, including during the second day of F1 testing in Bahrain. After completing more than 400 laps combined between Haas and Ferrari in Barcelona (Cadillac requires a separate discussion), the Maranello team decided to bring the same engine specification to Sakhir for these opening test sessions. And after two full days of running, there hasn’t been even the slightest sign of reliability issues.
On today’s running alone, Charles Leclerc completed an impressive 139 laps without encountering any technical problems, while Oliver Bearman followed closely with “only” 130 laps. Cadillac, with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, also managed to complete 109 laps. These are once again strong numbers for Ferrari’s new power unit, and now the first words of praise are starting to surface.
Ocon praises the new Ferrari power unit
The compliments came directly from Esteban Ocon, the Haas driver who runs the Ferrari engine. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, he openly praised the work done in Maranello. “In Barcelona I did 150 laps and I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like that before… we completed everything without problems and here (in Bahrain) it’s been the same. The Ferrari engine is incredible in terms of reliability.”
Esteban Ocon then shifted his focus to the biggest challenges drivers are facing with the new-generation F1 cars. “I like the challenge, it’s the first real regulation change since I’ve been in Formula 1 and it’s interesting. It’s easier to overtake with boost management.”
He also highlighted how crucial driver input will be in this new technical era. “The driver’s feedback will help the team understand where improvements can be made.”
However, managing these new cars won’t be simple. “It’s exciting but difficult to drive F1 cars now. You have to do go-kart style maneuvers to recharge, for example. It’s difficult to brake because the car arrives very fast into the corner: at the moment there’s a bit of front-end grip missing.”
With reliability already looking like a major strength, Ferrari’s engine project appears to be one of the early talking points of the Bahrain test. The next few days will reveal whether performance can match the outstanding durability shown so far.
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