Ferrari: 2021 campaign provides 'solid foundation for the future'

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto says the fulfillment by the Scuderia of its three main objectives in 2021 has provided the Italian outfit with a "solid foundation for the future".

After a dismal 2020 season – its worst in several decades – Ferrari significantly improved its performance this year, even if the Scuderia remained away from the winner's circle.

Charles Leclerc secured two pole positions last spring while teammate Carlos Sainz delivered four podiums which contributed to Ferrari finishing third in the Constructors' standings.

But beyond his team's 2021 track record, Binotto underscored the manner in which it had been achieved

"For us it was more important as a team to prove to ourselves first that we are capable of addressing the main weaknesses and improving the product itself, improving our performance and closing the gap to the top teams," said the Scuderia boss, quoted by RaceFans.

"What has been done in 2021 creates a solid foundation for the future."

Overall, Ferrari achieved the three main objectives it had set out for itself this season.

"The first was trying to close the gap to the top teams," said Binotto. "We knew that it would have been very difficult because some of the 2021 [car] would have been a 2020 car with as few modifications as possible.

"Only two tokens, some restrictions as well on the aero regulations because of the wind tunnel occupancy which was somewhat limited. But certainly, in our objectives, trying to close the gap to the top teams was important."

"The second [goal] – something I always, always mentioned – was try to improve in all areas over 2020. Especially at the racetrack – which, for me, is race preparations and race management."

• Read also: Sainz initially shocked by 'crazy quick' Leclerc driving style

Ferrari's final objective for 2021 was the bring everything together to create a solid foundation on which to build its 2022 season, an effort that included working on improving the team's "culture".

"First, it’s the people, so the team spirit," Binotto added. "The second, is development on the hybrid power units.

"We knew that, coming from 2020, the situation in terms of speed and gap to the best in terms of power was very difficult. So certainly, pushing and developing the hybrid was something important.

"We are working a lot now since Monza, more than a year ago, back in Maranello, to really try to improve not only the team spirit, but what I would call our ‘culture,'" explained the Swiss engineer.

"And we did, months ago, an important teamwork workshop to try to find out what were the behaviours that were important in order to become better in the future."

Binotto ensures that Ferrari's all-new 2022 power unit features "a lot of innovation" thanks in part to an "open mind" approach to engineering and design.

"If I look at the 2022 car and the 2022 power units, believe me, there is a lot of innovation in it," he said.

"I think that the way that the entire engineering team has faced the new design, the new project, the 2022 regulations – which were a big discontinuity – was certainly with a more open mind than before."

Ferrari will roll out its 2022 contender in mid-February, a week before the start of pre-season testing in Barcelona, and so far the development of the Italian outfit's car is going "according to plan".

"We know that we have no references to the other competitors," said Binotto. "I think that’s the most difficult one.

"We have no rumours on what’s going on with the others. What’s important to me to know that somehow we are reaching our objectives and it’s progressing to plan.

"We’ve got a budget cap since 2021, which will be even more restrictive next year. Again, a big challenge.

"But on all of that, I have to say that the team is well organised and today is working for me strong. The team is stronger than in the past."

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