Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has said he is pleased to see the Scuderia make progress in all “areas that were possible” following a very poor 2020 season.
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The Maranello-based team finished last year sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, making 2020 their worst season since 1980.
Ferrari struggled as a result of them having the weakest power unit on the grid and an uncompetitive, draggy car which resulted in them scoring just three podiums in the 17 grand prix contested last year.
Speaking this week, off the back of a relatively strong first race of the new season for the Scuderia, Binotto said they knew from pre-season testing in Bahrain that their 2021 car and power unit were much more competitive than their predecessors.
“The car behaved as expected. From winter testing, we knew we had a better car than last year, no doubt, relative to the competitors,” Binotto said.
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“Certainly the power unit has improved and we are happy to see that as well for Alfa Romeo and Haas with their progress. I think on our side, we progressed in all the areas that were possible.
“The aero is certainly better in terms of behaviour and correlations. But the power unit, the car overall, where it was possible to make improvements, we tried to do them.
“And I think it’s an entire package. So I will not really speak in areas, it’s the entire package which now is better, and that’s enough.”
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Continuing, he said: “[…] I feel relieved certainly because [it means that] we may work in a better position and that’s healthy for the team.
“It’s important that the team can work in healthy conditions, staying calm and positive, and that for me was important.
“So seeing the car that has progressed with the team in serenity, let me say, we can work in an even better manner,” the Ferrari team boss added.
Earlier this week, Binotto suggested that Ferrari’s 2021 driver line-up is stronger than last year, following Carlos Sainz being brought in as Sebastian Vettel’s replacement.
“Certainly we had a better result today then the whole last season even though we still have a long road to go,” Binotto said after the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix.
“We are going to use important data and info from this race and we will work on them.
“I am also happy with our two drivers. Finally we can count on both. Carlos [Sainz] had a good pace; the same can be said for Charles [Leclerc].
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“We are united to improve, and the information we are taking will be used on next races as well,” he added.
Both Ferrari drivers made it into Q3 in qualifying for the season-opener, with Charles Leclerc putting his SF21 fourth on the grid, while Sainz qualified in P8 on his debut with the Scuderia.
And, with Leclerc finishing the race in sixth and Sainz in eighth, Ferrari are fourth in the Constructors’ Championship after round one of the 23-race 2021 season.
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