Fred Vasseur has rubbished claims that Ferrari has found massive gains for their 2023 power unit, after rumours circulated that an increase of 30bhp has been found . Both Mercedes and Red Bull are also rumoured to have found more performance for their power units, but keeping his cards close to his chest the Ferrari Team Principal laughed off the rumours and branded them a "joke." "Regarding the engine, the numbers - I don't know where those numbers are coming from but it's just a joke," he told media, including RacingNews365.com.
Ferrari improves engine reliability after 2022 issues
With new power unit regulations being introduced for 2026, Formula 1 is currently in a power unit development 'freeze', albeit with reliability upgrades permitted. This can largely be done by increasing the reliability of components, something Ferrari needed to focus on after suffering from nine retirements in 2022 - including a double at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. But Vasseur cautions that any reliability and performance gains will not be clear until the team hit the track in Bahrain next month. "We have made some step [for power unit], but it's just about reliability," he continued. "I think the performance last year was not an issue at all, but the issue was the reliability and the first target is to fix it. "So far it looks okay, but the reality on the track is a different perspective. "I think that a couple of issues that the team suffered [from], and its not only true for Ferrari in terms of reliability, are also coming from the bouncing and vibration. "Everybody will have a much better picture in Bahrain."
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