Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, gave a more positive assessment than usual of the upgraded Formula 1 power unit that debuted at the Italian GP. While admitting a power deficit remains, Friday's practice results showed tangible progress for the Maranello squad.
Charles Leclerc was second fastest in FP2, just 0.120s behind pacesetting Mercedes driver George Russell. More promisingly, Leclerc's long-run pace looked competitive, placing Ferrari as Mercedes' closest challenger this weekend.
Power Deficit Analysis and Chassis Strength
Vasseur stressed that straight-line performance is not just about the engine, but also drag and car weight. "We definitely made a step, and we didn't bring ADUO 2 for nothing, but I think we still have a decent gap," he said.
A comparison of Leclerc's and Russell's fastest laps shows a clear pattern: Ferrari loses time on the straights but claws it back in braking zones and corners. Lewis Hamilton called the deficit to Mercedes "considerable" on straights but praised the engine improvement and driveability at low speed.
Ferrari's Potential and Red Bull Threat
Leclerc's long run was only three hundredths of a second per lap off Kimi Antonelli's, albeit on different tire compounds. This suggests Ferrari could be Mercedes' closest rival, unless Red Bull fixes the balance issues Max Verstappen encountered.
Red Bull is still searching for solutions after Verstappen sat out FP1 and faced balance problems in FP2. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson impressed on hards, matching Antonelli, adding another threat to the front-runners.
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