The battle in Formula 1 could enter a new chapter in the coming races, with Ferrari poised to close the gap to Mercedes. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli believes that changes related to engine rules could bring the Italian team significantly closer to his team.
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The regulations introduced this season allow manufacturers with lower power unit performance to have more dyno testing time and freedom for additional upgrades (ADUO). Currently, Mercedes is the benchmark in this regard, which opens up space for competitors to seek recovery throughout the championship.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italy, Antonelli stated that Ferrari should benefit directly from this situation: “I know there will be some important changes, including the ADUO permission granted to Ferrari, which will allow them to develop the engine even further,” said the young driver.
The championship leader highlighted that the Maranello team’s evolution could have an immediate impact on performance: “They will definitely close the gap significantly, because their car is already strong, so if they also manage to improve the power unit, they will get even closer,” he stated.
Despite this, Antonelli showed composure regarding Ferrari’s potential reaction. The Italian made it clear that his priority will be to maintain the level shown in recent races, without changing his approach in the face of the new threat.
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“But I’m not too worried; when I’m on the track, I’ll just focus on doing what I’ve done in the last few races,” he said. The Italian’s confidence is also supported by the development planned by Mercedes itself.
Antonelli revealed that the German team is also working on important updates for the next stages of the championship: “I’m also confident that we’ll bring some quite significant updates. The car is already working well,” he added.
As a result, the expectation is that the battle in Formula 1 will become even tighter in the coming races, with Ferrari and Mercedes intensifying technical development in pursuit of the lead. The potential narrowing of the gap promises to increase competitiveness and bring new elements to the title fight.
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