During the summer break, Ferrari announced that it was working on achieving a “significant” leap in performance for its engine in the second half of the season.
The team announced on Wednesday that it will unveil its updated hybrid system at the Russian Grand Prix this weekend and will equip Leclerc’s car with a new power unit.
Leclerc will take a new set of drive components with him in Sochi, as he is afraid for his battery after the accident on the first lap in Hungary and lets him go offline with one start.
Ferrari won’t be providing Leclerc’s team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr with the updated parts this weekend as it wants to avoid both cars starting the same race at the bottom of the grid.
The new hybrid system should give Ferrari a small performance boost of less than 10 hp.
Leclerc said during the FIA press conference on Thursday that the new hybrid elements are “a little better on paper,” but he doesn’t expect much progress.
“Of course, when we have something better, we always try to get it on the track,” said Leclerc.
“We expect it to get a little better. We don’t expect big, big changes, but something that is going in the right direction. “
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, at the drivers parade
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Leclerc spoke in the media pen of the Sochi Autodrom how important small performance steps are and what impact this could have on Ferrari’s close battle with McLaren for third place in the constructors’ championship.
McLaren are currently 13.5 points ahead of Ferrari in the overall standings, after leading 2-1 at Monza two weeks ago.
“We still feel like it’s going to be a step forward, but how much do we have to see,” said Leclerc.
“But I think in a season like this we try to take everything we can because at McLaren the margins are very, very small.
“Whatever we can bring into the car to beat them in the battle for the championship, we’ll try.”
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While Leclerc faces the challenge of battling his way through the field thanks to his starting penalty, the Ferrari driver hoped the forecast rain could help his cause and mess things up in the race.
“I think on a weekend like this it’s actually not a bad thing to change the unit,” said Leclerc.
“It wasn’t calculated. If so [raining], it’s a bit of luck, but it’s going in our direction. “
Leclerc also thought Sochi was a good route to switch to given the long straights that offer overtaking opportunities, especially at Turn 2.
“I think we all agreed to change it asap,” said Leclerc. “I’m not the one to say it. But I fully agreed to that.
“In situations like this, it’s something very obvious. If it was Monaco, of course you don’t change it in Monaco, but here in Sochi it made sense. “
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