Mattia Binotto has urged his team to “represent and honour” Ferrari in what he admits will be a “year full of challenges” in 2021.
The Italian team is looking to rebound after slumping to what was their lowest finish in the Constructors’ Championship for 40 years in P6 last season.
For Ferrari, reclaiming third is the main goal, but the Swiss chief knows that will be far from easy.
“2021 is going to be a very important year full of challenges,” said Binotto.
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“First of all the car, the SF21, which has inherited much from its predecessor, and then the budget cap – for the first time we have a limit on spending.
“We must face these challenges with determination along with our new driver line-up.
“In addition, the 2022 car must be planned from scratch since it will be completely new in its design and its technical features.
“The path that lies before us is long and full of obstacles. It’s entirely possible there will be setbacks and mistakes. Some of them are inevitable, others are intolerable.
“The important thing for us is that any weak spot becomes an opportunity for our team to improve, with the right spirit.”
Last year, Ferrari’s main weakness came on the straights as an underpowered engine and draggy chassis saw them near the bottom of all the speed traps.
But Binotto is confident of strong progress in addressing both.
“We’ve worked a lot both on the power unit and the car aerodynamics to reduce the drag of the car, and based on our simulations today, I think that we’ve recovered quite a lot of speed on the straight lines,” he claimed.
“So I’m expecting the speed not to be such an issue as it was.”
Also important will be the relationship between Charles Leclerc and new arrival Carlos Sainz.
“To reach our goals for 2021, we have a new driver team, Carlos and Charles, the youngest seen at Ferrari since 1968,” Binotto noted.
“We intend to construct our future around them. They too are well aware of being part of Ferrari’s long and extraordinary history.
“I realise that in every competition it’s possible to make mistakes. I expect fewer mistakes – very few or none. I expect to see quality and healthy, joyful competitiveness.
“We are part of a team that counts more than any of us singularly. We have inherited this enormous, exciting passion and we have recently had disappointments that must not be repeated.
“Our duty is clear – we must represent and honour the Ferrari flag because the Cavallino Rampante is a symbol of outstanding Italian excellence.”