F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Ferrari not 'naïve' about closing the gap to F1's front-runners

Ferrari says it would be "naïve" to believe that its ability to close the gap to Mercedes and Red Bull under this year's new regulations will have been made easier by the two teams' battle for the world championship in 2021.

The introduction this year of an all-new set of technical regulations compelled teams to channel the bulk of their resources into their 2022 designs at an early stage of the 2021 season.

While Ferrari never compromised the development of its all-new car, the intense fight at the top of the field between Mercedes and Red Bull that went down to the wire likely forced both outfits to devote more time and resources to their 2021 machines then ideally required.

But Ferrari sporting director Laurent Mekies doubts that the efforts sustained last season by Mercedes and Red Bull will have negatively impacted the two teams' 2022 programs.

©Ferrari

"I'm sure they had to develop this year," Mekies said. "However, they are in both cases incredible organisations, and it's enough to look at the results to see it.

"Therefore, I would not underestimate for one second their capability to produce a great 2022 car.

"Yes, they had to spend more on 2021, but if you look at the results they have produced in the last 10 years, one and the other, you will need to be very naive to think that it's going to be easy to close the gap.

"Because ultimately, you still have to close the gap.

"Even us, we look at the 2022 car numbers compared to where we are, and if compared to where we are is X number of tenths slower to these guys, then we need to get that gap plus the gap to them.

"So I would not be too worried for them."

Ferrari has stated that its own successful battle this year with McLaren for the final spot on the Constructors' podium had no impact on its 2022 development program.

"The only development we had in the second half of the year was the hybrid, which again is something we’ll use for next year," said Mekies.

"But we had chosen to make zero compromise for 2022."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Sao Paulo GP: Saturday's action in pictures

Saturday's proceedings were cut short due to a heavy rain storm rolling into Sao Paulo…

49 mins ago

Sao Paulo GP qualifying postponed after repeated delays

The FIA has postponed Saturday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix qualifying session due to adverse weather…

1 hour ago

McLaren: Team orders always ‘make life difficult for ourselves’

McLaren's successful 1-2 finish in the Brazilian Sprint race came with a dose of complexity,…

4 hours ago

Verstappen demoted to P4 following VSC infringement in Sprint

Max Verstappen has been demoted from third to fourth in the final standings of Saturday’s…

4 hours ago

Norris thanks Piastri for handing Sprint win, but not ‘proud’

Lando Norris secured victory in Saturday's Sprint event in Sao Paulo thanks to a McLaren…

6 hours ago

São Paulo GP: Norris handed sprint win by Piastri

McLaren clinched a valuable 1-2 sweep of the São Paulo sprint race, with polesitter Oscar…

7 hours ago