Ferrari Formula 1 team evaluating new injection system

As it looks to bounce back from a frustrating 2016 campaign, Ferrari enjoyed an encouraging start to pre-season testing with Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel setting the second- and third-fastest times at Barcelona last week.

Engine customer Haas says Ferrari has made a significant step with its new engine but there could be another significant performance leap to come.

Under the orders of president Sergio Marchionne, there has been a lockdown on Ferrari communication with the media, but word has leaked out of Maranello that efforts are under way to perfect a new type of fuel injector that has a double anchor.

While double jets are not allowed within F1 rules, this double anchor can deliver similar benefits, because the injector needle can be opened and closed with much greater precision.

This will reduce the possibility of excess fuel entering the chamber, which is then not burned perfectly.

The end result should be more power and less consumption, one of the keys to performance in the turbo-hybrid V6 era.

It is thought this new technology has not been tested on track yet, with the version of the engine that ran at Barcelona the standard version.

Both Ferrari and Haas completed the first week of testing using a single version of that 062 engine.

If work on the innovation is successful, it is possible Ferrari could introduce it alongside its Turbulent Jet Ignition concept for pre-combustion in the chamber.

While much of the focus this year has been on the aerodynamic changes, the higher drag of the 2017 cars means engine performance will also be a key part of the development race.