Ferrari engine mods passed by FIA

Ferrari has been given permission by the FIA to modify its engines, and the team will have the revised units in action in Spain this weekend.

Although all F1 teams are subject to a strict engine freeze, manufacturers are allowed to introduce updates for specific reliability purposes, if the FIA agrees.

This year Fernando Alonso has already lost two engines from his allocation of eight, and Ferrari has been troubled by its pneumatic system. In the past it was replenished at pit stops, but with today’s shorter tyre-only stops, there has been no time to do it.

A Ferrari statement on Tuesday confirmed that permission has been granted: “A lot of work was carried out on the test bench, completing several long runs and this work produced some solutions which it is felt will solve the reliability problems experienced in Bahrain and Malaysia. The team therefore requested and received authorisation from the FIA to make some changes within the framework of the current engine regulations and these modifications will be fitted to the engines to be used in Spain.”

The team has confirmed that it will also experiment with its wing stalling system this weekend, Giancarlo Fisichella having tested it in straightline running at Vairano recently.

“On Friday in Barcelona, the wing will be tested by both drivers during the free practice sessions, as they will need to get used to actually operating the system and there will be no need to do a back-to-back evaluation against the existing wing as this has already been carried out at Vairano. After free practice, a decision will be taken regarding its use for qualifying and the race.”