Ferrari, Arrivabene curbs enthusiasm: "No super engine in Sochi, gradual evolution"

From Russia with…mystery. Thus begins Ferrari's approach to Sochi, with a half-denial that will have a "unsettling" effect for the Prancing Horse fans, already ready to uncork the champagne over the hypothesized engine modifications.

Ferrari, according to those in the know, will present itself in Russia with a new front wing and a profoundly improved engine (the third for Vettel), with the expenditure of three "tokens" to improve combustion. An older step of the 2016 Power Unit which seemed like a response to Mercedes and a step forward after the reliability problems suffered in the first two races of the season.

Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari team principal, did not deny the use of tokens for Russia, nor the hypothesis of the third engine for Seb, but he was quick to cool things down, downplaying the importance of the updates planned for the engine.

“We will bring something to Sochi, but not of major importance – explained Arrivabene to the Brazilians at UOL – Our philosophy is based on gradual growth without upheavals. We started 2016 with a completely new concept and it makes no sense to bring revolutionary improvements to the track. Engine development follows the same philosophy. The use of the tokens will be very gradual."

Antonino Rendina

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