Ferrari ready to use engine tokens for Monza

The Maranello-based team has made a dramatic step forward with its power unit for this season, but still needs to make some improvements if it is get on a par with Mercedes.

And, as it nears a point where it needs to introduce a new engine anyway, Ferrari is ready to use more development tokens to help deliver a power boost at high-speed Monza.

But team principal Maurizio Arrivabene said that there was unlikely to be anything too dramatic.

"We are working, but in Monza there will not be a "super engine," he explained. "We could spend some tokens, but they will be very few.

"So it is not worth talking about a super power unit, only an engine. "

Monza challenge

Ferrari reverted to an older aerodynamic concept at the Belgian Grand Prix because of the low-downforce demands of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

And the fact that Mercedes was still well clear means that it is realistic about its hopes of a good performance on home ground.

"You know very well that the characteristics of Monza are similar to those of Spa," explained Arrivabene. "So they are less well suited to our car.

"This is not to say that we will throw in the towel and run away refusing to fight: we will go there trying to do our best. But we know we go there not being the team to beat.

"For that I'm sorry because it is the Italian Grand Prix, but I want to be realistic. I'm not going to delude the fans, so I prefer to say it like it is.

"If we could somehow pull a rabbit out of the hat I would be delighted, but we will not be the point of reference."

Interview by Franco Nugnes