One and Only wrote: ↑12 Jul 2020, 10:24
Moore77 wrote: ↑12 Jul 2020, 10:16
F1Krof wrote: ↑12 Jul 2020, 10:07
Can they revert back to 2019's car?
They should simply do that. Assuming the engine has lost out due to new FIA fuel sensor checks, to the tune of 40 HP, they would end up being around half a second slower on Red Bull Ring. Previous car would still be a clear third best!
FIA first came looking for them in October last year and it was clear of the additional fuel flow sensor coming in 2020. Since then, they should have worked on enhancing the PU performance and they should have clawed back some of that lost 40 HP. If this not far fetched to assume, then they should still be competing with Red Bull for 2nd place with last year's car with this year's PU. They can at least attempt it with Vettel, like Haas did last year post mid season when they went back to Melbourne spec car and that was actually a better car! Ferrari has nothing to lose.
Last year's engine with additional fuel sensor would still be better than this one, if Ferrari's trick was (only) burning more fuel. Also it wouldn't require building entirely new PU. This year's engine looks like on 2016. levels. It's like FIA deleted 3 years of development for Ferrari. If Ferrari could build decent aero and play their politics right Mercedes/Honda engine would be under heavy scrutinizing as well. They seem completely lost and Binnoto seems overwhelmed.
When did Ferrari claim they built or building a new PU? Whatever so called trick is, lies at the combustion chamber where they push more fuel. If there is an additional FIA sensor for more accuracy and if that is where Ferrari has caught out, they probably have a system that need to stop from pushing excess fuel, which it seems to be doing now.
But throughout the past 6 to 8 months, the PU is going through an all round development in a variety of areas like, Turbo, combustion efficiency itself, ERS components, driveability enhancements etc., and Shell making advancement in their fuels. So, they don't have to build a new one and I don't think they have claimed anywhere that they have built a new one. They might have lost power, but there should also be more power coming from supplementary development around PU, which should offset the bigger loss to some extent. This PU is not at 2016 level. That would be insane to say the least.
This year's chassis might be very draggy like they claim, which is perfectly plausible having seen Williams in the last couple of years. A great Mercedes PU but a draggy car making them as much as 3 to 4 seconds a lap slower compared to Mercedes. Essentially, Ferrari's problem might not be all PU alone.
So, that is my hypothesis that, last year's chassis, coupled with this year's PU should still be competent in the top 3.
Gangdom: Pom, Tom, Loverboy, Boomer.