Red Bull Vs Ferarri

[TheDeuce]

This is what I was referring to: https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-full-extent-of-...

Goes further than I realised actually..


However, reading this suggests Honda had an updates ahead of the freeze being approved.. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.formula1.com/en/l...

So they've essentially had one full PU update cycle more than the others?

Digging deeper, I have read that Ferrari DO also have a revamped PU with a little extra power. But.. this article says they are sticking with the Melbourne spec PU (in fact the entire car) for Austria, which will force them to keep the same PU spec for the rest of the season as a result. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.formula1.com/en/l...

If this is all correct, I'd assume that as Ferrari raced to develop an improved 2020 car, they co developed the new spec PU to work with different packaging and mount points etc. But with the new car not ready to race in time, they now have to use the original 2020 car and its original PU. Which by extension would also mean they have to get the same PU to fit in the new car in time for Hungary!? If so, that's a massive kick in nuts for the team.

Edited by TheDeuce on Wednesday 1st July 07:55

[TheDeuce]

HustleRussell said:

That is interesting and I did not know.

So the moment Ferrari runs that PU in FP1 on Friday, the spec of the oily bits is locked in for the entire season

Sounds like their redesign is mostly aerodynamic but their engine advantage was gone at the end of 2019 and the other manufacturers have upgrades. They have lost the jewel in their crown.

I only read up on those new rules last night too. So much has changed in the last couple of months it's hard to keep up to date. The implications of the PU freeze in general are pretty significant, and for Ferrari it's looking pretty bleak. They had previously said they had a new PU since Melbourne with more power, and the only reason I can think of them not using that is it will only fit the new car that they plan to use from Hungary onward.. But now with the PU freeze, they are not only stuck with the old PU for the season, but if I'm right, that means they also have to adapt the new car to work with it. One way or another it sounds like they caught both ends of a stty stick.

Makes one wonder what pressure Ferrari were under to agree to the PU freeze when they obviously weren't happy with what they had in testing. Perhaps they thought the new car would be ready in time for the season start which would enable them to start with the updated PU? Or perhaps they accepted what the other teams wished, and the other teams will no longer pursue the Ferrari/FIA secret deal complaints now.. Either way they appear to be the chief losers of this new rule.