Why Ferrari is set to emerge from shadow of worst season since 1980
Why Ferrari is set to emerge from shadow of worst season since 1980
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has provided key insight into the developments made by the Italian outfit as it aims to bounce back sharply from last season's misery.
An under-par power unit, aerodynamic inefficiency and a lack of harmony on occasion dogged the Scuderia's campaign in 2020 as it finished sixth in the constructors' standings, the worst position for the team since 1980.
Binotto has overseen the preparation of a new power unit for this year as well as the enforced rear-end aerodynamic changes and believes he can see progress.
"Obviously we know how the engine is running on the dyno, and when you fit it on the car what you look at is the speed and the relative speed to the others," said Binotto.
"When we were here in Bahrain for the race [end of November], in quali we were very slow on the straights. We did not enter Q3 and we were a distance from pole.
"Now if I look at the data, at least on the speed, on the straights the speed is all right. There does not seem to be a disadvantage as there was last year."
On the rear-end changes and Ferrari's quest to reduce the draginess of its car, Binotto added: "It's not only power, it's the drag of the car as well, as we said last year.
"Both of them have contributed in improving our speed on the straights, and today we feel it's not any more a disadvantage.
"We tried to develop the back of the car. What was more important for us was to understand the correlation with the wind tunnel, so gathering data and comparing.
"I think we are pretty happy with the correlation and we've got a good baseline for the next simulations and developments. The correlation was the key data, and so far it's looking pretty well."
With the realisation of the team's troublesome situation after pre-season testing this time last year, the atmosphere at its Maranello base soon turned on its head.
Binotto, however, has highlighted the togetherness of all Ferrari employees as the team works religiously to pull the Prancing Horse out of the hole it finds itself in.
"It's very difficult when you are not performing as you expect because at Scuderia Ferrari your ambition and objective is for the maximum and the best," stated Binotto.
"But last year, while the atmosphere was difficult, in the end, we were very united. It would have been easy to fall into a different situation, seeing the performance we had.
"But the team remains united, it continues to try to work and improve. We are now at the start of a new season, we have a different car and there is new hope, so it is normal that the atmosphere is better."
Binotto also pointed to the new driver pairing of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.
"With Carlos as well, he is speaking very well, we have two drivers, experienced but young and they are fitting well on and off track," added Binotto.
"The entire atmosphere at the moment is great, but it will be a long season, 23 races, it may be pretty difficult again, so we need to be prepared, be focused, simply on what is our objective, which is long term, and not forget it."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Verstappen takes F1 swipe at Hamilton and rivals with ruthless remark
- 23 minutes ago
Marko defends Ricciardo in 'unbelievable' idiot claim
- 1 hour ago
Hamilton hints at sensational Newey arrival at Ferrari
- 2 hours ago
Suspended Red Bull employee 'grilled' as Horner saga given potential END DATE
- 3 hours ago
BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed
- Today 18:58
F1 boss HITS BACK at star driver over schedule complaints
- Today 17:58
Related news
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
Sky Sports F1 pundit dumbfounded by key Ferrari decision
F1 giants announce name change with IMMEDIATE effect
Ferrari announce HUGE F1 change to iconic red livery
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860