Ferrari sees modest gains from second power-unit upgrade at Italian Grand Prix
Ferrari's latest engine upgrade delivered measurable improvements in practice, but the team remains behind Mercedes on straight-line power, according to team principal Fred Vasseur and driver feedback.
Ferrari introduced its second power-unit upgrade of the season under the FIA's Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities programme at the Italian Grand Prix. Team principal Fred Vasseur said the package provided a step forward but acknowledged a continuing power gap to Mercedes, noting that overall performance also depends on drag, weight and car balance.
In Friday's free-practice sessions, Charles Leclerc was second fastest in FP2, 0.120 seconds behind Mercedes driver George Russell, and showed strong long-run pace. The data indicated that Ferrari loses time on the straights but regains some speed through corners and braking zones.
Lewis Hamilton described the engine as an improvement and praised its low-speed drivability, but said the team must still address deployment strategy and aerodynamic drag to close the deficit. Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache highlighted balance issues for his team after Max Verstappen missed FP1, while teammate Liam Lawson posted a competitive hard-tyre stint.
McLaren's Lando Norris reported being off the pace across the circuit, particularly on high-speed sections, and called the weekend "much trickier" than previous Fridays. In the midfield, Racing Bulls led the pack with Haas close behind; Haas driver Ollie Bearman confirmed the upgraded Ferrari engine was delivering the expected characteristics.
Audi, which only altered gear ratios, lagged the midfield leaders, and Aston Martin continued to struggle despite an upgraded Honda power unit. Overall, the session suggested Ferrari is narrowing the gap to the front-running teams but still faces a notable straight-line power shortfall.