Reuters
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in action during qualifying Pool via REUTERS/Giuseppe Cacace
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in action during qualifying Pool via REUTERS/Giuseppe Cacace
2020 turned out to be a massively disappointing season for the once-dominant Ferrari F1 team. Since then, the Binotto-led team have been figuring out ways to revive themselves from the awful position. One such way is the recent private testing.
Following the Christmas break, the Ferrari drivers were back in full swing, as both the F1 drivers, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, took part in the week-long event at Fiorano.
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Apart from the duo, the newly recruited Haas driver, Mick Schumacher, and other academy drivers, too, joined the team at the Ferrari-owned circuit.
Mekies’ view on the Ferrari F1 testing
Speaking to Ferrari, Laurent Mekies, the team’s sporting director, opened up about the experience and the primary intention behind the massive testing.
“The most important aspect of the test was to give the Scuderia official race drivers, Charles and Carlos, the opportunity to get back into the swing of driving again after the winter break,” he said. “For the FDA guys, it was another opportunity to experience driving a Formula 1 car.”
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Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari looks on in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Considering the two Ferrari drivers haven’t raced in months, this testing may have just brought an end to the brief stoppage of experiencing the massive G-force.
Furthermore, this testing might help the two drivers get up to speed much quicker than the others over the soon-to-begin winter testing in Bahrain.
Mekies reveals the “best thing” about the week
The Ferrari’s sporting director reckoned that the drivers are ready for the upcoming F1 season. He revealed that the drivers were eager to step into the cars after the brief halt.
“I think the best thing about the week was the atmosphere in the garage at our home track, with all the guys really happy to be back on track, to prepare as well as possible for the upcoming season,” he said.
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Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF1000 on track during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Albert Gea/Pool via Getty Images)
Ferrari had an embarrassing 2020 season, as a substantial loss in HP led to the team’s fallback to mid-field. Fortunately, this season might not be as bad for the Reds. Turns out the team built an entirely new engine, rectifying and retrieving the lost power.
As a result, they might just leap ahead of a few mid-field teams over the 2021 season.
However, the bigger question is, can Ferrari revive their old form and rejoin the top-field battle against Red Bull and Mercedes? Well, let’s see what the future holds.
Read More: Why did Ferrari Sign Carlos Sainz?
