Ferrari deny theory behind Imola F1 upgrade

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has denied his squad has opted to introduce a sizeable upgrade package in Imola to simply offer a boost at its home race.

The Italian squad is set to debut new parts at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix next weekend as F1 ventures to Imola for the first time since 2022.

With one victory under its belt this year thorugh Carlos Sainz in Australia, Ferrari is looking to make further inroads on Red Bull with its latest upgrades, which hit the track at a private test from Fiorano on Friday.

Ferrari has not won at Imola since it made its return to the F1 calendar in 2020.

As it seeks to offer a challenge towards the front of the field, Vasseur highlighted the Maranello-based outfit's upgrade plan did not coincide with a return to its home event.

"When you are doing the development, it's not that we want to bring something in Imola because it's in Italy,” he told media including RacingNews365.

"We are pushing for the development. And as soon as we are ready, we are producing parts.

“The fact that Imola is close to the factory, it's also helping to bring something because we can release the parts a bit later."

"But it was nothing to do with Italy. And then again on this, we don't have to expect that it will be a game changer, but it's so tight that this can bring performance.”

Upgrade impact

Red Bull was defeated once again last time out in Miami by McLaren, who introduced a significant upgrade on race-winner Lando Norris’ car,

Vasseur detailed the fight between several teams is so close that a minor upgrade gain can have a seismic impact on the track.

“Two of our competitors brought parts this weekend [in Miami], and it was not a game-changer at the end of the day,” he said.

“I think we have a kind of some thought into the development of this current car and, when we are bringing something, it’s never a mega upgrade.

“It’s true that when you are in quali and you have four or five cars in one-tenth, if you bring one-tenth, it’s a game changer for the weekend.

“But a large part of the result is coming also from what we are doing with the drivers and the setup of the car during the weekend, the management of the tyres.

“We don’t have to think only about upgrades and development. It’s also the job that we are doing on track.”