Alfa Romeo, Haas switch to upgraded Ferrari engine
Ferrari's customer teams Haas and Alfa Romeo have both elected to switch to the Italian manufacturer's Spec 2 engine for the Monaco Grand Prix.
The Italian outfit fast-tracked the introduction of its upgraded power unit for the Spanish Grand Prix in the hope of adding more performance to its car.
Team principal Mattia Binotto said in Spain that the move to bring forward its introduction, which had been originally planned for the Canadian GP, had not been easy.
"It has been a big effort and not straightforward and not obvious," he explained. "It has been then a very last minute decision to introduce it.
"We just concluded the entire homologation process in the last days, so we did it because we were convinced that it could have been important here as well, and maybe important in the next races – maybe even Monaco."
With Ferrari having gone alone in running the upgrade at Barcelona, both Haas and Alfa Romeo have now confirmed they will run the new power unit in Monte Carlo.
Although the tight and twisty track will not particularly play to any power steps, getting an understanding of its mapping will be important ahead of the next race in Canada, which is more power sensitive.
Haas boss Gunther Steiner said: "I don't know exactly how much the power difference is, and how much the driveability is [better]. But it is energy management and all that stuff, and I don't know the maps. But for sure it will not be worse."
Previous article
Grosjean: Haas may come to rue "avoidable" Magnussen clashes
Next article
Ricciardo says he's having "positive influence" on Renault
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Teams | Haas F1 Team , Alfa Romeo |
| Author | Jonathan Noble |
The defining traits that set F1’s best apart
What makes the very best drivers in Formula 1 stand out among what is already a highly elite bunch? Andrew Benson takes a closer look at those with the special blend of skill, judgment, feel and attitude that sets only a select few apart from the rest.
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
