F1 News
Ferrari watching from the sidelines: 'We will see more speed from Verstappen'
- GPblog.com
Ferrari are doing their best to get back to the top and the team is currently battling for third place in the constructors' championship with McLaren. Ferrari engineer Laurent Mekies talks about the success of the new hybrid system and gives his opinion on the title fight between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
"It's difficult to say. It’s a great fight. It’s after, whatever, 15 races or more, they are two or three points apart. It’s great to see. Looking from the side, it seems that we will see a bit more speed in the latest races with Max but I’m sure it’s going to be a very tough fight until the last race", Mekies begins in the press conference of the FIA.
New hybrid system
In Sochi, Charles Leclerc took a grid penalty after taking a new hybrid system. This weekend, Carlos Sainz will have the same system in his car, which will also lead to a grid penalty for him. "It worked in a very smooth way through the weekend, which was the first objective. Performance-wise it was never going to be a game-changer – nothing is nowadays, it’s small steps – but it was a step in the right direction and we are pushing forward with Carlos this weekend."
Mekies is asked how much of the current engine will go with the team into 2022. He is also asked if the hybrid element will now provide the same power as Mercedes and Honda. "At first, yes, what we see on this year’s car, what we have just introduced is a step that we will take to 2022. When it comes to competitiveness analysis against the other manufacturers, it’s early days. Only one race weekend and obviously we will anyway have to wait until next year to see what will be there on step before we assess whether or not we have completed the catch-up work or whether there is still work to do to be at the same level."