Ferrari have a fuel issue that Shell is trying to address before 2027

Despite flashes of brilliance throughout the current season, the general consensus regarding the Scuderia is that they have squandered key opportunities in the title races. While much of the internal scrutiny has been directed at team principal Fred Vasseur’s demeanour, a more technical deficiency may be the true culprit behind their lack of consistent performance.

The Fuel Bottleneck

While many observers have pointed to a lack of raw power, an underlying issue with their fuel supply could be the actual reason for their struggles. Ferrari’s current 'hot running' engine approach—a setup chosen in hopes that superior aerodynamics and higher horsepower would provide a competitive edge—has not yielded the expected results.

According to reports from Motorsport Italy’s Franco Nugnes, there is an acknowledgement within the paddock that Ferrari’s fuel partner, Shell, is currently far from being the most competitive provider on the grid. This mismatch has hindered the engine's ability to perform under high-temperature conditions. To rectify this, Shell is reportedly working to refine its fuel products, ensuring that the revised power unit can extract maximum performance without the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) struggling during race stints.

Engineering a 2027 Revolution

Ferrari is already looking far beyond the current season, with development heavily focused on the 2027 package. The team is aggressively recruiting engine specialists from Red Bull and Mercedes to ensure they close any performance gaps.

The technical overhaul for 2027 is expected to be comprehensive:

• Power Unit Optimisation: Rather than abandoning the high-temperature setup, Ferrari aims to optimise the 2027 power unit to handle even higher temperatures, thereby increasing total power output.
• Enhanced Turbocharging: The Scuderia plans to implement a much larger turbocharger to eliminate the battery issues that have plagued drivers like Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton this season.
• Chassis and Aero Integration: The goal is a holistic upgrade. Ferrari is designing a slimmer body and an adjusted floor to provide a significant boost in race pace.

With the potential advantage of a shift in the engine power split from 50/50 to 58/42, Ferrari is determined to ensure this technical window is fully exploited. The message from Maranello is clear: they are no longer content with merely being in the championship mix; they are building a car to win it all.