Ferrari team leader Mattia Binotto: “The car has been developed in all areas where improvements are allowed”; Scuderia to hold two pre-season launch events to unveil the team and then the new car 2021
By James Galloway
Last updated: 12/02/21 5:06 pm
Ferrari is confident that their new 2021 car “developed in all areas” is possible as they fired up their opponent for the first time at Maranello.
After their worst season in 40 years when they finished sixth unprecedented in the Builders Championship, Ferrari have already admitted they need to do better in the season new despite limitations on how crews can improve their cars over the winter.
Their engine received a particular focus of development after falling to the bottom of the sport’s power promises in 2020 following a series of technical instructions the previous winter.
That new engine was unveiled for the first time on Friday as the Italian team completed the first successful symbolic fire of their new opponent, known as the SF21.
“Our 2021 season starts here,” team leader Mattia Binotto told the team’s crew from the fire up.
“We can expect a lot of challenges along the way and we want to do better.
“The car has been developed in all areas where improvements are allowed. We need to work in a determined and focused way, aware of where we were and where we want to go.”
Ferrari, meanwhile, has confirmed that it will hold two online pre – season events to launch their team and car for the new season, on February 26 and then March 10 respectively. Among the Covid-19 pandemic, teams typically hold events down online only this year to showcase their 2021 rivals.
F1 2021 launch dates
| Date | Team |
|---|---|
| February 15th | McLaren |
| February 19th | AlphaTauri |
| February 22nd | Alfa Romeo |
| February 26th | Ferrari (team launch) |
| March 2nd | Mercedes |
| March 5th | Williams |
| March 10th | Ferrari (car launch) |
Carlos Sainz has joined McLaren for 2021 and is expected to be formally unveiled as a Ferrari driver for the first time at the February 26 event. The Spaniard, who will replace Sebastian Vettel, will be joined by Charles Leclerc.
Both drivers have already completed some time this year, despite being in a three-year-old car, running a Fiorano Ferrari week a fortnight ago.
F1 pre-season trials begin in Bahrain on March 12, with the 2021 season running from the same spot on March 28.