Liuzzi 'not hopeful' as Ferrari approaches critical test in Montreal.
Vitantonio Liuzzi expresses his skepticism regarding Ferrari's chances of winning the title, despite an increasing belief that the team's updated chassis may now rank among the strongest in the competition. Following the Miami race, Ferrari seemed to fall behind both McLaren and Red Bull again, even though they had rolled out a comprehensive new aerodynamic package centered on the much-discussed ‘Macarena’ rear wing.
Technical analyst Paolo Filisetti from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicated that the upcoming race in Montreal will serve as the first real metric to assess whether Ferrari's developmental path is effective.
"Ferrari presented an extensive aerodynamic upgrade package in Miami that featured eleven different elements," Filisetti noted. However, he mentioned that the Miami circuit failed to provide definitive insights since it significantly highlighted Ferrari's engine shortcomings compared to Mercedes.
"The objective data has once again underlined the constraints of Maranello’s current power unit," Filisetti explained. "There’s a consensus in the paddock that the SF-26 is a highly competent car in terms of chassis and aerodynamics, but it currently suffers from engine performance that does not match the best."
Filisetti speculates that Mercedes may have difficulty leveraging its typically superior energy-management strategies as aggressively as on prior circuits. He added that Ferrari has extensively revised its energy-management modes following the regulatory changes in Miami. "Rumor has it the simulations have shown very promising results," Filisetti stated.
Liuzzi, a former Toro Rosso and Red Bull driver, remains doubtful about Ferrari's ability to maintain a championship challenge. "I hope so," he said when asked if Ferrari could still compete for the title. "But I’m unfortunately not very optimistic, as over recent years, we've seen that the development of the car during the season has been somewhat slower compared to our competitors. Ferrari is always competitive, but unfortunately, it hasn’t been enough to clinch the title. Still, I hope to be proven wrong and see Ferrari in contention in the latter part of the championship."
Meanwhile, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that the Brackley-based outfit will finally unveil its first significant upgrade package of the season in Canada, after rivals revealed their advancements in Miami. "Our competitors made progress in Miami, and we need to respond," Wolff stated. "With seven Grands Prix in ten weekends before the break, we have an opportunity to do just that and build momentum."
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