Ferrari SF-24: Charles Leclerc's power unit still operating at almost full efficiency
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The Las Vegas GP left Ferrari dealing with a wave of controversies that heated up post-race discussions. Fred Vasseur is working to calm tensions as the team heads into the Qatar GP, where Ferrari must play all its cards to challenge McLaren for the Constructors' Championship.
The Scuderia clawed back 12 points from the Woking team but still faces a 24-point deficit. To close that gap, Ferrari must extract the maximum potential from the SF-24, the drivers, and the team in Qatar. While the desert circuit is expected to suit McLaren's cars better, this season has often defied pre-race predictions—who would have thought Mercedes would dominate in the U.S., where Ferrari had hoped for a double podium?
Fred Vasseur has skillfully avoided delving into the spat between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, allowing time to cool the heated exchange, much as has happened with previous disagreements. Unclear communications from the pit wall may also have played a role in fueling confusion.
Ferrari aims to keep its Constructors' Championship hopes alive until Abu Dhabi and relies on full cooperation from both drivers. To achieve this, the team must finish the season without further power unit changes. While Carlos Sainz is equipped with a fresh unit from the Brazilian GP (installed after his qualifying crash necessitated starting from the back), Charles Leclerc is still using engine number four, homologated during the Dutch GP's practice sessions.
In Las Vegas, some commentators highlighted that Charles Leclerc was losing around three-tenths per lap to Carlos Sainz due to the power drop from his aging engine. However, Ferrari's engine department, led by Enrico Gualtieri, would hardly have overlooked the need for a new 066/10 engine if such a significant deficit existed, even at the cost of a grid penalty.
Charles Leclerc's current engine, introduced at Zandvoort, would have reached eight races had it been used continuously. However, Ferrari planned a rotation strategy to extend the lifespan of its power units. According to information from Ferrari's racing department, the difference between a new engine and one at the end of its mileage is roughly 15 horsepower—far less than what some speculated. The team has worked hard to limit the performance drop-off to no more than a tenth of a second per lap.
If Charles Leclerc's engine had indeed cost him three-tenths per lap in Las Vegas, it would imply a loss of over 45 horsepower—an unrealistic figure for a team striving to compete for the Constructors' Championship. Unless unexpected technical issues arise, Ferrari plans to complete the season without resorting to another engine change. Reports indicate that Charles Leclerc's engine has surpassed 3,000 kilometers, while it was designed to last nearly 5,000 kilometers.
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