Charles Leclerc, the driver representing Monaco, had to change the power unit in his Ferrari SF-24 for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix due to anomalies discovered after the Miami Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Power Unit Technical Director, Enrico Gualtieri, ensured that the team took this measure to ensure smooth performance with their new upgrade package. Gualtieri explained that post-race checks were not aligned with their standard values, but there is no cause for concern at this stage. Since the engine cannot be tested on a dynamometer, they chose to use it during practice day to confirm its capability. This engine, which is the third on Leclerc’s list, will be used again in the future as part of their standard plan.
Gualtieri emphasized that after the Miami race, his analysis was not aligned with their usual findings. As a precautionary measure, they will reuse the engine in the upcoming practice sessions, as they cannot test it on a dynamometer. This decision was made to minimize any potential risks or downtime during the important event and to gather more data for analysis.
Ferrari had a promising start to their weekend at their home circuit, with Leclerc leading the times in the first practice session and Carlos Sainz finishing third. However, Gualtieri warned against drawing conclusions about their technical upgrades at this early stage. He mentioned that the team brought the upgrades for this session as part of their plan and that a thorough analysis of the data from the second practice session will provide more information. They expect to capitalize on these upgrades throughout the season to reduce the gap to Red Bull.
