Ferrari will focus solely on the development of their new 2022 car unless results next year are “worse than expected”, Mattia Binotto says.
Heading into 2021, teams do face a bit of a balancing act in trying to ensure they remain competitive, while also being in the best position to capitalise on the all-new regulations coming the following year, this as a ban on all development of the 2022 cars ends on January 1.
But, Ferrari, probably like most teams around them in the midfield, admit it’s unlikely the SF1000 will get much attention unless absolutely necessary.
“I think 2022 will be more important than 2021,” team boss Binotto explained.
Also Read:
- Di Montezemolo offers to ‘fix’ Ferrari, names Domenicali as ‘perfect’ CEO
- Binotto: Leading midfield the ‘minimum objective’ for Ferrari in 2021
- Sainz praises Ferrari ‘character’ in 2020, open to test in 2018 car
“That’s because in 2022, we are opening a new technical era and if you somehow already have a gap to be closed by the start of 2022, it will be more difficult on the following season.
“So certainly I think that 2022 will be the top priority next year.
“If we are doing some work on the 2021 car, it’s only because the situation is worse than expected, or because some activities are required on the 2021 car for learning in trying to do something better for 2022.”
Ferrari does remain eager to avoid a repeat of their performance struggles from this year again in 2021, however, with hopes an upgraded engine and efforts to address the excessive drag the SF1000 will bring a boost.
“I think that as Ferrari we cannot accept a similar season to 2020,” Binotto stated. “So we need to do something certainly better compared to what we were doing.
“I think that if I look at the way we are developing the car, I’ve got some hope that the season can be better. But you can never know, up until the point you’re on track and you are somehow comparing yourself to the others.
“I think that it will be important not to have such a difficult season as we had in 2020. So the minimum would be competing for a better position.”