AT Ferrari, we are waiting for the time to change. The Italian team of Formula 1 and his two pilots, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc and his new Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz Jr, who arrived this winter from McLaren, will no doubt have to arm themselves with patience in their quest for the world crown, monopolized by the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) in recent years.
“Objective” 2022
In 2021 we will focus on developing the 2022 car. This will be the main focus and therefore we will not be spending a lot of time on the 2021 car during the season.
, explained this Friday February 26 the boss of the Italian team Mattia Binotto during a virtual press conference, accompanied by his two pilots.
There is always a balance, it is a choice we have to make. 2022 is a big change […] so a large part of the effort will be devoted to it
, Binotto continued.
Already absent from the circuits during several races last year, the manager indicated that he would miss other Grands Prix – leaving room for French sporting director Laurent Mekies – in order to stay in Maranello, headquarters of the Scuderia, for focus on next season.
Mattia Binotto, boss of the Italian team. © via REUTERS
Speed problem fixed
In the meantime, the 2021 single-seater (the SF21), which will be presented on March 10, will be an evolution of the previous one, a large part of the developments being frozen as a measure of economy in the face of the coronavirus crisis.
Binotto, like its drivers, however, assure that it will be better made, even if they wait for the pre-season testing in Bahrain from March 12 to 14 and the first race on the same circuit on March 28 to assess their progress at the yardstick of the competition.
READ ALSO. Formula 1. Third, Ferrari’s “minimum objective” in 2021
We believe the car is more efficient both aerodynamically and engine.
, assured the Team Principal, affirming that the lack of speed in a straight line which was a problem last year has been corrected.
His team ranked 6e among manufacturers in 2020, 442 points behind the Mercedes champion. The gap with the former was significant
, agreed the Italian engineer, adding that it’s not something that can be corrected in a winter.
Leclerc / Sainz, a promising duo
This year, the big change for the prancing horse team is finally called Carlos Sainz Jr. At 26, the son of double world rally champion Carlos Sainz is already experiencing a dream
and will not forget never
his first day on the Scuderia’s test track, the Fiorano circuit, in December.
Sainz, 6th in the 2020 championship, two places ahead of Leclerc, confirms having a good relation
with the 23-year-old Monegasque. They have been the youngest driver duo for the Scuderia since 1968. I never had any problems with my teammates so I don’t see why I would have any with Charles
, he said.
Carlos wants to beat me, I want to beat him too, but the most important thing is to be able to separate what is happening on the track and off.
, explains Leclerc, who is attacking his third season in red.
We must work together to move the team forward in development
, he urges. And finally achieve the ultimate goal of theirs: put an end to the wait for titles that has been going on since 2007 with the drivers (Kimi Räikkönen) and 2008 with the manufacturers.
– .
