Ferrari presents its 2021 team

It’s the Formula 1 presentation season! But while other teams are unveiling their liveries for the new 2021 season, Ferrari first wanted to present its team this Friday before unveiling its new car, the SF21, on March 10.

This presentation revolved around three main axes, first, it is the Team Principal Mattia Binotto who wanted to project himself onto the upcoming deadlines, by mentioning the work done internally to regain performance on a disappointing car in 2020: « The SF21 inherited a lot from the SF1000 of 2020 due to the regulatory and budgetary constraints imposed this year. However, we have worked a lot on both the engine and the chassis and aerodynamics, with the aim of reducing the drag of the car. And according to our simulations, I think we have recovered a good part of the speed on the straights ».

The director of the Scuderia remains measured with regard to the expected performance of his cars: Despite this increase in performance observed in the wind tunnel, we remain grounded and will only be able to assess our chances when the season starts in Bahrain. The gap with the leading teams was significant in 2020, and it must be admitted that this is not something that can be bridged in a single winter. He continues by declaring about the 2022 season: Our mission in 2021 will be to focus primarily on the development of the 2022 car, which will have to meet the numerous current regulation changes. There are choices that need to be made, and that is why we will spend less time on the SF21 than on the car that will succeed it.

Following this, we were treated to the presentation of the drivers of the red team, including newcomer Carlos Sainz who will support the “veteran” Charles Leclerc. The two drivers, who form the youngest duo to have raced for Ferrari since 1968, reflected on their respective careers and their pride in being part of the iconic Formula 1 team.

From every angle. Our 2021 lineup ✨#essereFerrari ???? @Charles_Leclerc @CarlosSainz55 pic.twitter.com/o3JUyGBunl

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 26, 2021

Finally, the two protagonists engaged in a discussion in the form of questions/answers during which Sainz, questioned about his upcoming battle with his Monegasque teammate, conceded: “No, I don’t think I can beat Charles this year because I still have work to do to get used to a single-seater that he has already managed to tame since he’s been there. We’ll see what happens with that, but the most important thing is that we are able to collaborate to bring the team up.”

A reflection shared by Leclerc who expects more rivalry from Sainz: “It is stimulating to have a fast teammate, as it allows one to improve notably by analyzing all the collected data, it is an additional challenge but also an opportunity to learn.”

Following this rather optimistic team presentation, the appointment is scheduled for March 10 to unveil the SF21 that Sainz and Leclerc will drive during a 2021 season resembling a redemption for the team with the prancing horse.