Ferrari F1 drivers take new engines after Vettel’s failure

Ferrari Formula 1 drivers Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc have taken on new power units for this weekend’s 70th Anniversary at Silverstone.

Both drivers SF1000’s have been fitted with new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), turbo and MGU-H components after Vettel suffered a failure during Friday practice.

Ferrari confirmed the changes made to Leclerc’s car are just a precaution and the team will face no penalties with the component alterations falling within their permitted allocations for the season.

“After yesterday's engine failure on Sebastian’s car, as a precaution we have changed Charles’ PU,” a Ferrari statement confirmed.

“This is also penalty free as we have not exceeded the number of components allowed in the regulations.”

Vettel’s Ferrari ground to a halt in the latter stages of the second practice session at Silverstone, with his car leaking oil down the old start-finish straight before he pulled over at Copse.

The four-time world champion described the issue as a “big failure” and said he had “no warning” of a problem before his Ferrari conked out.

Speaking of the failure, Vettel said: “No, no warning, was very sudden, obviously a failure, now we have to see what it is. It will probably take a couple of days as the engine will get shipped back and analysed.”

Vettel is looking to bounce back at the second Silverstone round after enduring a disastrous British Grand Prix weekend, while Leclerc claimed his second podium finish of the season.

After yesterday's engine failure on #Seb5's car, as a precaution we have changed #Charles16's PU. This is also penalty free as we have not exceeded the number of components allowed in the regulations. #F170

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) August 8, 2020