Ferrari SF21 car launch

Ferrari launch SF21 car for 2021 Formula 1 season with new engine and hope of much-improved form

Team boss Mattia Binotto said the revised car was more efficient and the new engine more powerful after straight-line speed proved their biggest weakness last year.

Ferrari will attempt to make an immediate recovery from their worst season in 40 years with the new SF21. Launch was two days before pre-season testing.

Red and Green for Ferrari SF21

Ferrari car colour is red, of course. But also not so traditional is the green Mission Winnow logo on the engine cover. The red itself also blends into more of a burgundy at the rear.

Car and Engine Performance

But of more significance to the team’s fortunes in 2021 will be the performance improvements they have managed to make over the winter.

Although development improvements teams can make from last year’s cars have been limited like never before on cost grounds amid the pandemic, Ferrari have made clear they have worked hard to maximise the areas they can develop.

Key to this will be rediscovering lost performance from their engine, where development has remained unrestricted over the winter.

Ferrari fell to the foot of the F1’s power stakes last year in the wake of a private settlement with the FIA and a number of engine-related technical directives the previous winter, and have now introduced a “completely new” engine for 2021.

A revised layout for the turbo is among the changes.

“This car was born out of last year’s car due to the new regulations so it was partially frozen. However we tried to improve it in all of its areas, wherever it was possible,” said team boss Mattia Binotto.

“This car has a completely new power unit. The car aerodynamics is revised. Its livery has also changed. The posterior is a burgundy colour similar to the very first Ferrari racing car, the 125S.

“It’s the same colour we used last year at Mugello to celebrate our 1000th Grand Prix. This year is going to be full of challenges.

“Visually, we’ve drawn on our history but we’re also looking towards the future, which will always be defined by our Ferrari red.”

Bahrain Pre-Season testing

Following the car’s launch, the Ferrari SF21 will get its first laps in anger at the Bahrain International Circuit. Pre-season testing commences on March 12-14, following a shakedown run on Thursday.