Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMcLaren

Ferrari engine now on a par with Mercedes - Lauda

Niki Lauda belives that Ferrari's power unit has now matched Mercedes own level of performance on the engine front.

The Mercedes AMG Petronas non-executive chairman believes the Scuderia has enjoyed a substantial step forward this season, punctuated by the introduction of an upgraded power unit at the Italian Grand Prix which has now wiped out the German manufacturer's power advantage.

"This year to do better than Ferrari we had to make a lot of progress," Lauda told Italy's Autosprint magazine.

"Since they introduced the updated engine at Monza, I would say that they matched us in terms of power and efficiency. The 20bhp advantage we had is now gone. We are now at the same level of power: we know for certain because of the reference we have."

Lauda is now convinced that Mercedes will be hard pressed to repeat in 2016 the dominance it has enjoyed this year and last, with the Maranello squad clearly threatening its authority.

"The picture will change in 2016, because in F1 you can't sustain your technical superiority for a long time," Lauda concluded.

"We know the others can catch up. When you are at the limit of the performance of the regulations it's difficult to make big progress, which is easier for those behind us."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.