Ferrari gap to F1 rivals "not so dramatic" following PU upgrade

Ferrari

Ferrari gap to F1 rivals "not so dramatic" following PU upgrade

Scuderia is closing in on third in the constructors' standings

Ian Parkes

Wednesday 3 November 2021 14:00

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Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto feels the Scuderia has made "a big step forward" with its power unit compared to a year ago that has dramatically cut the gap to its F1 rivals.

The updated system certainly has its main competitor in McLaren worried as Lando Norris recently suggested it had "tipped the balance" towards Ferrari in the fight for third in the constructors' championship.

With just three-and-a-half points separating the two teams, Norris' team-mate Daniel Ricciardo also suggested Ferrari "had its nose in front" going into the final five races that start with this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix.

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Although refusing to quantify the gains from a PU now being used by both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz following its recent introduction, Binotto said: “The power is available all through the straight line so you get the benefit from it at the start of the straight but as well at the end.

"The way we can quantify it is if I look at the weekend in Austin, we were running maximum downforce but we were somehow matching the speed of the others, or almost matching the speed of the others.

“If we consider how the situation was last year, this is certainly a big step forward.

“We still know there is a gap to the best engine but we believe that gap today is not so dramatic.”

Ferrari now has a chance in battle with McLaren - Sainz

Sainz, in particular, feels the battle with McLaren will still ebb and flow over the next few weeks, although with the PU upgrade he at least has greater confidence Ferrari is now firmly in the hunt to take the fight to its old enemy.

"It has been super-tight this year with McLaren," said Sainz. "They have had the upper hand in some circuits and I think they will still have the upper hand in some of the circuits that are left this season.

“But the important thing is we have put ourselves in a better position thanks to the effort back at the factory and now it is allowing us to put ourselves in a position to take the fight until the last race.

“Whilst maybe in Sochi and Monza you would think they were the clear favourites until the end, now at least it looks like we’re going to have a chance and we are going to try and finish the season strongly.”