One of the great advances that Ferrari has experienced this year is the engine, which after two seasons at a lower level than its rivals has once again positioned itself as the benchmark on the grid. Valtteri Bottas knows both and this is his verdict.
Valtteri Bottas has gone to the ‘enemy side’At least when it comes to the engine. And it is that, after having competed for five consecutive seasons with Mercedes, the Finnish driver enjoys this year the reborn Ferrari engine.
The Italian team, which after the sanction imposed by the FIA privately has suffered a lot to have a competitive engine in the last two seasons, go back to the top now and the power unit is largely to blame for it.
“From the corner exits, it seems to give more options on what gears to use, etc”
The Ferrari F1-75 It has been very fast, reliable and also adaptable to any circumstance. And many point to the power of a completely renewed engine for this season as one of the main keys to the resurgence of the Scuderia.
However, someone who knows the mercedes engine and that this year he has gone on to compete with the Italian engine, he considers that its strong point is not power.
A very manageable engine
Valtteri Bottas begins by pointing out that both are very different when it comes to being managed, with the Mercedes more automated in several of its parameters.
“The energy deployment and strategy in the race is different in terms of how you manage it,” reveals Bottas. “It seems that with the Ferrari power unit the driver does more things manually compared to the Mercedeswith which there were many more automatic modes ».
“At least at Alfa Romeo, there is more manual management, more responsibility for the driver. I don’t mind. It’s good to manage the battery and stuff.”says the Finn, winner of 10 Formula 1 Grand Prix.
But, when it comes to the pure performance of the Italian power unit, Bottas points out that “in engine power, honestly, there is no big difference. That means they made progress from last year!”
“For me, the biggest difference is the handling,” explains the Finn from Alfa Romeo. “It is a strength of the Ferrari engine, the driving ability. From corner exits it seems to give more options on what gears to use etc. Maneuverability, I would say, is the great advantage of the Ferrari engine.”.
Not in vain, Ferrari has been superior to its rivals at the exit of the curves, in which the traction and progressiveness of the engine are important. This is also advantageous when managing tires in the racesince it contributes to minimizing degradation due to longitudinal loads.
Source: The Race