German journalist Michael Schmidt thinks Ferrari is using the same strategy as Mercedes in 2021. The Italians are using the full power of the UP, despite reliability problems. For now, the team doesn't have a solution either.
German journalist Michael Schmidt thinks Ferrari is using the same strategy as Mercedes in 2021. The Italians are using the full power of the UP, despite reliability problems. For now, the team doesn't have a solution either.
"Ferrari has a very good car. What surprises me is that everybody copies Red Bull, but nobody copies Ferrari. That shows that no team knows why Ferrari is so fast," Schmidt said on his Formel Schmidt program from .
Mercedes has a theory that Ferrari's speed has to do with the flexibility of the floorboard. "Mercedes suspects that, but they also suspect that Red Bull is doing something with the floorboards. We will find out at Spa. In my opinion, in terms of performance level, it won't change much."
Ferrari is running at full power
Ferrari's reliability has been a big problem this season. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have broken down several times this season. At the Austrian GP, Sainz was forced to stop his car at the side of the track with the UP on fire. "At the moment, it doesn't look like Ferrari has a solution to the engine problems. Even if it does, it will take time to implement. The current pool engines still have the same problem."
According to Schmidt, it will take until Spa for the new engines to become part of the pool. This would also mean another grid punishment for Leclerc. Despite the reliability problems, Ferrari is n]ot reducing power. "Absolutely not. They have to drive at full power. They have to take all the risks. I think they are using a similar strategy to Mercedes last year." In fact, in 2021, the Silverbacks opened up the full power of UP after the vacations. As a result, the drivers suffered several grid punishments, most notably Bottas.