Chuckjr wrote: ↑06 Nov 2025, 09:50
Here's the article in English (google translate)
For Ferrari, the weeks between late summer and early autumn were characterized by a revolving door atmosphere. Much ado was sparked by Wolf Zimmermann Lars Schmidt's departure from Audi, which, at a crucial time for the development of the 2026 power units, created a void in the Prancing Horse's engine department. While from the outside, the situation appeared fluid on the eve of the introduction of the new regulations, which will bring enormous changes to both aerodynamics and engines, Maranello quickly denials and professed calm, maintaining that the department headed by Enrico Gualtieri (who now has full power following the departure of two key collaborators) is working at full speed and with maximum concentration on the new power unit.
Experiments on... materials
According to our sources, the Scuderia had wanted to experiment with innovative material solutions on a PU since last May, such as a steel cylinder head. This idea was abandoned (no one knows when) in favor of traditional solutions made from additive-treated aluminum, to achieve levels of reliability and power that, given the temperatures and pressures involved, the original solution could not guarantee. For this reason, bench tests (to determine the reliability needed to ensure the unit's longevity, allowing the season to be run with the units permitted by the FIA) are in full swing. But, despite what other sources have reported, it's unknown under what conditions the pre-established targets were achieved, and whether they can be reassuring or not. Furthermore, in addition to reliability, Enrico Gualtieri's engineers will also have to determine the power needed to make the power unit at least competitive. And, according to information we have, the situation in this regard doesn't look too rosy: the Prancing Horse, at least at the start of the year, will most likely lag behind Mercedes, whose unit is widely tipped as the one that will set the bar. As they say, Vox populi…
Former rivals in the lead
And the people, or a portion of them, have given the Prancing Horse some less than flattering information regarding the work currently underway in Emilia on the development of the new engine. As is well known, technicians from other teams have recently arrived in Maranello, especially Alpine, which, after completing the PU 2026 program, freed up its engineers, who will soon be moving to new companies. Well, according to what has been learned in recent days, the engineers arriving from Viry-Chatillon have not praised the work of Ferrari's engine engineers, claiming that the Alpine engine (whose design and development were interrupted prematurely due to decisions made by company management, halting its life in the embryonic phase, thus preventing the "squeezing" of horsepower) performed better on the test bench than the one currently being developed in Maranello. This rumor, at a time when Ferrari's technicians are already considering the production of the components that will equip the 678's power unit in the initial tests, could represent a serious blow to the validity of the work done in recent months. On closer inspection, however, these suggestions could represent a "help" for Enrico Gualtieri's team, useful for correcting any shortcomings in a project born from a blank sheet of paper and in which even small details could have major consequences and bring significant benefits.
Never promising when the drivers/team say they don't know where they went wrong. But sprints have never been Ferrari's forte either so...