Red Mist: Ferrari heads to Japan focused on every opportunity

The Scuderia is of course focused on Formula 1’s first "Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities" (ADUO) come in June. But the team is also working flat out on all fronts to catch the championship leaders well before that.

All Formula 1 power units will be evaluated after the sixth, 12th and 18th Grands Prix of the season. Units 2% to 4% down on the best engine’s output will be allowed an additional upgrade. Those more than 4% off gain two extra improvements to their power units.

Initially slated for after Miami in May, the Saudi and Bahrain races were cancelled. Around the conflict in the Middle East region. Now the ADUO evaluations will only be done after Monaco in June. Two more ADUO tests are scheduled for after Zandvoort in August And after Mexico in November.

Still Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur is not fazed about the ADUO delays, or even Mercedes’ apparent sliding compression ratio tricks.

“It’s not just about combustion engine performance,” Vasseur points out. “There’s performance to be found in energy management. And plenty to unlock in the chassis. We must not only focus on power.

“We were competitive with Mercedes earlier on both at Shanghai and in Australia. But that had more to do with us keeping inside the one second. Where we have the extra overtake mode boost. With that we could keep the pace. But as soon as they were more than a second ahead, it became far more difficult.

“We also probably pushed a bit harder than them in the opening laps. Which took more out. So they were able to keep it up after the first ten laps of each stint. While we slipped by four of five tenths a lap as the stints progressed.

"We’ve already improved though," he claimed. "We were eight tenths off in Melbourne. Six tenths on in China Friday. And only four tenths off on Saturday. So we’re understanding a bit more the situation. And closing the gap step by step. But they’re still too far away.

“Yes, our performance deficit is mainly in a straight line. So we have to work to do there. Of course we must improve on the combustion engine. But that will come. After the first ADUO. Which is now only after Monte Carlo.

“Still, it's not just about the engine," the Frenchman insisted. "We must work everywhere. Now we focus on improving the energy. On the tyres and chassis. On aero.

"The performance is still on the table. We must focus on every chance we have to improve. But it's a challenge. So we’re pushing like hell. On every single area. To close the gap.”

Mercedes arrives in Japan with a 31-point advantage over Ferrari. Suzuka however brings a third different track style. And the third fresh challenge in three races. The race is followed by a bonus month’s hiatus through April due to the cancellations. Ferrari, and the rest of the teams will be taking all opportunities with both hands in order to advance.

Suzuka brings a combination of both tight and twisty sectors. That the nimble Ferraris seem to like, and big power straights. Those appear to better suit Mercedes’ power and super-clipping. So Ferrari may very well chase best energy distribution to close the gap this weekend.

Either way, Japan promises an interesting new facet to what is fast becoming a most intriguing season. Forza Ferrari!