How Ferrari's latest F1 engine upgrade is reaping the rewards in Mexico

How should Ferrari's strong performance during the first two practice sessions in Mexico, with Leclerc finishing first in both, be interpreted? 

The ease with which the Monegasque's SF-26 managed the top positions was certainly surprising.

At the same time, it is worth pointing out that all the power units were being operated very conservatively on Friday in Mexico City.

This is primarily due to teams needing to assess the levels of heat exchange and stress on components such as the turbocharger that were actually being reached.

One significant detail, according to sources, concerns the fact that, for this weekend, where power unit operation is substantially different from that at any other race due to the effects of the lower air density, Ferrari has been able to establish specific operating modes that optimise both the internal combustion and electrical management parameters of the power unit.

However, further information suggests that this type of work only became possible following the introduction of ADUO 2 last September.

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Treating the early pace with caution

The benefits of the upgrade have not translated into greater power, but rather into greater consistency from the internal combustion engine, enabling it to better support the different energy recovery and deployment strategies.

In short, ADUO 2 was not a tool for increasing internal combustion engine performance, but instead enabled more effective energy management. 

According to sources, this has allowed the SF-26 to be more competitive at circuits with very different characteristics, including those that, on paper, are more challenging for Ferrari's power unit.

That said, ahead of qualifying and the race in Mexico, it is important to consider that power unit operating modes will be considerably more aggressive for a single qualifying lap than those seen so far. 

Consequently, a deficit in Maranello's power unit that has remained hidden until now could become apparent.

However, it is equally true that both the race simulation and qualifying simulation have provided a useful basis for assessing the car's overall dynamic response and, above all, how it manages its tyres.

Indeed, the SF-26 has not only demonstrated an operating approach perfectly balanced with the characteristics of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, but has also been configured with a 'soft' setup from a dynamic perspective, prioritising traction.

This allows for precise tyre management, reducing thermal degradation, which is particularly characteristic of this circuit due to the low aerodynamic load imposed on the tyres.

In short, while Friday's results should be treated with caution, the overall picture is that the SF-26 and its power unit are extremely well positioned within their performance window. 

In extreme conditions such as those in Mexico City, that is no small achievement.