Will Ferrari change Charles Leclerc’s engine in Abu Dhabi? Fred Vasseur responds. Ferrari is considering replacing the engine in Charles Leclerc SF24 car in Abu Dhabi.

A Saturday that makes the chase for the Formula 1 title even more challenging has left Ferrari needing a miracle to secure the Constructors’ Championship in Abu Dhabi. To maximize their chances, the team is contemplating installing a new power unit in car number 16, as confirmed by Fred Vasseur himself.

Starting from the back of the grid provides the Ferrari engineers an opportunity to consider this option. While the penalty for a new engine would not affect Charles Leclerc’s grid position, it would allow him to race with a fresh power unit capable of being pushed to its limits.

What will Ferrari do with Charles Leclerc?
The decision is far from straightforward. A new power unit always carries some uncertainties, so Ferrari is carefully analyzing the situation before making a call.

Team Principal Fred Vasseur confirmed this after the qualifying at Yas Marina. “We haven’t decided what to do yet. We’ll probably make the decision before the race,” he said. “A new engine would give us an advantage, but not as much as one might think. The current power unit isn’t excessively worn, so we need to weigh everything carefully.”