Vasseur confirms Ferrari Power Unit upgrades to close Mercedes gap

Ferrari targets power unit gains in championship fight

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur says the team will deliver further power unit improvements as it attempts to close the gap to Mercedes and sustain pressure in Formula 1’s championship battle.

Ferrari had two additional development and upgrade opportunities available this season based on the initial FIA analysis, and used one of them to introduce an update at the Austrian Grand Prix. Vasseur made clear, however, that the power unit remains an area requiring attention as Ferrari seeks to build on a recent run of stronger results.

The team’s momentum has been particularly evident in its points comparison with Mercedes. Vasseur said Mercedes had been “flying” before Spain, building an advantage of roughly 100 points over four or five events. Since Spain, Ferrari has reversed that trend, scoring more points than Mercedes across the following five races.

“We know that we have to improve on the engine side, and we will do it, even if the inertia on the engine is much higher than on the chassis,” Vasseur said.

The scale and timing of those gains will be central to Ferrari’s prospects. Vasseur stressed that the team must maintain its development pace, while acknowledging that McLaren has made major steps through larger upgrade packages. Ferrari, by contrast, is pursuing a more continuous approach, bringing parts race by race. The team has also identified room for improvement across the chassis.

For further context on Ferrari’s engine development direction, see our report on the team’s planned engine upgrade.

Budapest result leaves Ferrari encouraged

Ferrari did not fully maximise its opportunity at the most recent race in Budapest, according to Vasseur. He would have preferred a one-two finish, but the team still outscored Mercedes and reduced its championship deficit by one point.

Since the Monaco Grand Prix, Ferrari has outscored Mercedes by seven points. That is progress, but not yet a decisive swing, making each development step and race execution increasingly important with many events still remaining.

“We have the feeling that we did far from the best of what we can do, and in this situation we are not losing points,” Vasseur said. “That’s the positive that I will keep for my vacation.”