Scuderia Ferrari have been the closest to the flying Red Bulls this season apart from McLaren. Carlo Sainz fetched a win in Australia after Max Verstappen had to retire following an overheating brake issue. However, with McLaren bouncing back aggressively following upgrades, the red team will now take cues from the rivals.
Ferrari introduced an upgrade package during the Imola Grand Prix and fetched encouraging results. While the drivers’ standings were largely indifferent, the team supposedly witnessed lap time gains during the main race. And encouraged by that, Scuderia has decided to prepone their upcoming package to as early as the Monaco Grand Prix.
Ferrari To Fast Track Minor Upgrade Package In Monaco
Charles Leclerc became the first Ferrari driver since Michael Schumacher to attain a podium finish in Imola this year. While he finished 7 seconds behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, the Scuderia team was largely encouraged as their extensive upgrade package supposedly delivered two and a half tenths of lap time. The Italian giants firmly believe that they have closed the gap to Red Bull to a certain extent since the start of the season. And now, with McLaren on the cusp of beating Red Bull with just a couple of upgrades, Ferrari thinks they can emulate the same by fast-tracking the next set of upgrades in Monaco. As per media reports, the Maranello-based outfit is set to introduce new high-load rear wing changes and DRS devices in Monaco.
Ferrari improved load quality in Imola to optimize the heat in the tires more efficiently. Now, in Monaco, the focus will be to add more balance into the rear without compromising on the overall speed of the straights. While the package is small, it is supposed to add to the lap times of SF-24 further as Scuderia aims to chase down McLaren and Red Bull by the end of the year. Notably, the red team also has a package in the pipeline for Silverstone, where substantial changes to the floor, side pods, and engine cover are suspected. The reverse and test drivers already tested the prototype in the team’s Fiorano circuit and returned with positive feedback. Needless to say, Red Bull’s days of dominance seem to be numbered, given how McLaren and Maranello-based outfits are pushing aggressively.
Carlos Sainz Issues Damning Verdict On Imola Upgrades
Ferrari outgoing driver Carlos Sainz finished P5 at Imola and was seemingly upset as he struggled to edge past Oscar Piastri throughout the main race on Sunday. Sainz revealed that the upgrade package didn’t work for him even though his teammate Charles Leclerc finished on the podium.
“I think something was not there today, but with Charles, it looks like everything went as expected, and the race pace was good,” said Sainz in a post-race interview. At the end of the day, the Spanish driver feels it all comes down to the pecking order. He needs to find ways to start in the front row in order to achieve better results in upcoming race weekends.
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