Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc received a new Ferrari power unit at the Russian Grand Prix two weeks ago, as the Italian side introduced an upgraded hybrid system with a view to their 2022 engine. It provided a step forward in performance, but just how big that step was is unclear.
That’s because like Verstappen (and Nicholas Latifi and Valtteri Bottas), Charles Leclerc had to start the race from the back of the grid, with his new power unit seeing him exceed the number of components allowed during a season and triggering a mandatory penalty.
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We saw a clear hint of what it can do with his opening lap as he climbed through to 12th in no time, and Charles Leclerc was even running as high as third for a spell before making the wrong call on tyres in the closing stages. Given the fact that team mate Carlos Sainz qualified second and led for the first part of the race – eventually finishing on the podium – the Maranello team looked competitive in Sochi and Charles Leclerc will be keen to see just how strong they are going to be for the rest of the season.
In Turkey, Charles Leclerc knows he can attack a weekend armed with the update and without a penalty hanging over him, so we will see if it has given Ferrari the upper hand compared to McLaren as that particular fight for third in the constructors’ championship heats up.
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