Ferrari use remaining power unit tokens
Scuderia Ferrari has confirmed it has spent its remaining power unit development tokens for 2016 claiming a ‘continuous’ and possible ‘high rate’ of development.
The update comes after Ferrari did consider updating its power unit at Spa however in an attempt to stay within the restriction of five units per season opted to bring the update in a race later.
Both cars received a new ICE, TC, MGU-H, ES and CE with all three remaining development tokens now consumed. This essentially means that Ferrari can now focus all of its attention on its 2017 power unit, of which there will be no restriction on development once the season starts.
“We are continuously developing and by developing the power unit for the regulations we are spending tokens,” said Ferrari chief technical officer, Mattia Binotto. “The fact we are spending our last means that somehow we spent whatever was possible this season, which means a continuous development, higher rate possibly.”
The Scuderia has not revealed where it has spent its development tokens. The MGU-K is not the focus of the latest token spend as the team are running the same element as used in Spa.
“I think it’s really too early to see what will be the benefit,” said Binotto. “We know what’s the value; let’s see what the others have done.”
The Haas F1 team has also received the new power unit however Sauber are yet to confirm if it will receive the update power unit.
Ferrari are the third PU manufacturer to introduce an update after the summer break with Honda and Mercedes introducing its own updates immediately after returning from the break at Spa.
2016 power unit tokens remaining:
Renault 11 (21 remaining)
Mercedes 26 (6 remaining)
Ferrari 32 (0 remaining)
Honda 29 (3 remaining)