New Ferrari Russian GP updates to set 2021 baseline

Ferrari is to roll out a number of updates at this weekend's Russian Grand Prix that sporting director Laurent Mekies has revealed will provide a baseline for the 2021 Formula 1 season.

The Scuderia has endured a wretched campaign to date, scoring just two podiums from nine races to leave it languishing in sixth in the constructors' championship. It is 40 years since Ferrari finished any lower than fifth.

Team principal Mattia Binotto has already stated the minor aerodynamic package "will not change the big picture", but according to Mekies it will at least represent a start going into next year when regulations remain unchanged.

"We will be introducing a few small aero updates on the SF1000, as part of the plan which extends over the next few races to correct as far as possible the weaknesses seen in recent races, particularly with a view to 2021," said Mekies.

"We’re not expecting this small package to make a big change but it will allow us to check its functionality and give us a baseline for future developments."

Mekies has acknowledged the first nine races have proven "to be very difficult for the Scuderia, as can be seen from the results," with the team only 13 points ahead of seventh-placed AlphaTauri.

But ahead of this weekend's Russian Grand Prix, Mekies insisted: "It’s not in our nature to give up under any circumstances.

"That’s the spirit in which we approach the Sochi weekend, even if in the short time we’ve been coming here, the track has never been too favourable for us.

"We will do our best, aware that at the moment, we are up against a lot of stiff opposition."

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