What's the story with Ferrari, will the legendary F1 team make a comeback in 2021?
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari driver, expressed disappointment after the latest race, stating, "It was a tough season for us, and it's a shame how it ended." However, he optimistically mentioned some progress made in recent races, hoping they could continue into the winter months to prepare for a stronger 2022 .
Ferrari finished second in the Formula One constructors' championship from 2017 to 2019, but slipped to sixth place in 2020 . The team managed 19 podium finishes in 2019, with two drivers bagging three victories, and achieved three podium finishes in total . In a sport like Formula One, where year-on-year improvement is expected, Ferrari’s drop in performance is concerning, especially considering it happened in a season that marked their 1,000th Grand Prix .
Phil Duncan, a Formula One reporter for PA Media, described 2020 as "a year to forget" for Ferrari. He added, "If they finish next year in a similar position to this year, it's not good enough for a team like Ferrari. They are the most successful team in this sport, but since 2007, they haven't won another world championship."
What's gone wrong for the team synonymous with Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and John Surtees? Can they recover in 2021?
Vettel Issues
With 16 constructors' titles, Ferrari is hard to beat in Formula One. Williams is a distant second with nine points.
Ferrari started the new millennium strongly, with Michael Schumacher winning five constructors' and drivers' championships between 2000 and 2004, before securing the double again in 2007 with Kimi Räikkönen . But their winning streak came to an end, leaving many questioning why despite Sebastian Vettel joining the team in 2015, it hasn't led to more titles for Mercedes' fierce rival.
Lawrence Barretto, a leading author by Formula1.com, suggested that Leclerc's meteoric rise would change Ferrari's view of their no.1 driver and Vettel's view of himself . "When Leclerc won seven poles last year and took the race, it was clear that Sebastian was not as far ahead as I thought, and Ferrari thought he would be," he told CNN. "I think that put pressure on him."
At the beginning of the year, Ferrari announced Vettel would be replaced by Carlos Sainz, clearly indicating that Leclerc is the future of the team . But Duncan doesn't believe Vettel's trust in Leclerc's rise is responsible for his slump.
"He raced against Lewis [Hamilton] and Lewis basically dominated him," explained Duncan. "Since he lost the lead in the Germany Grand Prix in mid-2018, his form has gone downhill."
Vettel's poor performance isn't just limited to his issue with Leclerc. There have been multiple incidents showing that Vettel struggled under the pressure of being Ferrari's no.1 driver.
For instance, he purposefully crashed into Lewis Hamilton's car during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix of 2017, believing that Hamilton had blocked him in a test. Vettel even intentionally slowed down to force others into crashing or moving out of the way to avoid an accident .
At the Singapore GP in 2017, Vettel had a chance to take control of the championship, but he started from pole position and collided with Raikkönen and Max Verstappen, ending the race for all three drivers. Hamilton won the race and took over the championship lead, which he wouldn't relinquish for the rest of the season .
Things got even worse in 2018, with countless grid penalties and avoidable collisions leading to numerous point losses. The Germany GP incident in mid-2018 is among the most memorable failures .
The consequences of these mistakes were apparent. Leclerc now has an average start position of 8.3, while Vettel's is 12.2. Their average finishing positions (excluding retirements) are 5.4 for Leclerc and 9.2 for Vettel .
Things took a better turn for Vettel at the Turkish GP, under challenging racing conditions . The recent redevelopment of the track and the wet weather made it difficult for drivers to switch off.
Only two minutes of excessive throttle use was enough to see drivers slide off the track. With just enough throttle and not too little, drivers couldn’t make progress.
Ferrari's driver talent was evident during that race. Vettel finished third, while Leclerc was just one place behind.
Ferrari's struggles are not just the result of their driver, Vettel's trust in Leclerc, or Leclerc's performance in 2020. Under ideal racing conditions, the car wasn't performing as expected.
Regulatory Challenges
Ferrari finished six races in a row with their car taking pole position in 2019. However, that ended in the USA Grand Prix, resulting in their engine needing modification . Regular inspections by the FIA revealed no wrongdoing, but the changes reduced Ferrari's ability to maintain the same level of performance for the two remaining races of the season .
Ferrari insisted on its innocence, but in the winter break of that year, the team reached a private agreement with the FIA regarding its engine problems . Details about this agreement were not disclosed.
Additionally, Ferrari faced more motor rule changes than any other manufacturer at the start of the 2020 season . According to records from the Belgian Grand Prix held in August 2020, the average car speed was 10 km/h (6 mph) slower than in 2019 . Ferrari's impressive speed in qualifying in 2019 enabled Vettel and Leclerc to achieve average start positions of 4.3 and 4.4 and average finishing positions (excluding retirements) of 4.6 and 3.8, respectively. A stark contrast with their performance in 2020 .
Regulatory challenges continued, but Ferrari managed to invest in new engines and cars before the introduction of the new budget cap in 2021 .
To ensure fair competition and put an end to Mercedes' dominance, the budget cap is set at $145 million in 2021, $140 million in 2022, and $135 million from 2023 to 2025 . This presents an opportunity for Ferrari, known to spend upwards of $400 million per year, to prepare for the upcoming seasons prior to the new regulation.
Mattia Binotto, Ferrari's Team Principal, remains optimistic about the team's progress. He said, "We expect to make as much profit as possible by the end of the year, taking full advantage of our maximum resources." He added that they would still be able to make improvements in certain areas using "token" updates that are legal under the rules.
Binotto also mentioned that the team was working on a new power unit, currently being tested, which is expected to provide positive feedback on performance .
Leadership and Stability
Binotto's position as Ferrari's Team Principal should have been under threat after a disastrous season, much like his predecessors. But so far, he has managed to retain his position.
Since 2014, Ferrari has had three team principals, indicating a need for stability in the management. For a men's team, this move is surprising .
Sergio Marchionne, former Ferrari Chairman and CEO, continued to exert pressure on Binotto. Binotto revealed that Marchionne expected him to respond to WhatsApp messages instantly, day and night .
Louis Camilleri, who took over as CEO after Marchionne's death in 2018, understood the importance of stability and investment . However, in late 2020, Camilleri unexpectedly resigned, leaving John Elkann to temporarily replace him .
Asked if there would be changes in the management due to the disappointing performance, Ferrari said in a statement, "During the 2020 season, Ferrari has reorganized its technical department to increase efficiency and deliver better performance."
The team maintained that Binotto still enjoys the top management's full support .
New Beginnings
The arrival of Carlos Sainz for the 2021 season has sparked optimism within Ferrari's ranks, viewing him as a leader. Sainz replaced Vettel after two years at McLaren.
Barretto believes Sainz will set an example for the team, pushing everyone to perform better . "He'll be the first one in the factory working to improve performance as soon as he arrives, and he'll encourage everyone else to do so," said Barretto.
Sainz agreed, stating, "I'll be the first to set the example for more performance, and as soon as I get there, I'll encourage everyone to follow suit."
Despite optimism, changes may not be immediate. Barretto believes the 2021 regulations won't present opportunities for Ferrari to make significant strides, but changes coming in 2022 might offer better prospects .
Enrichment Insights
Ferrari has a rich history in Formula One, having recorded 16 constructors' titles and 15 drivers' titles. Their most successful period was between 1999 and 2004, with Michael Schumacher winning an unprecedented five consecutive drivers' titles and the team securing consecutive constructors' titles as well .
For the 2025 season, Ferrari is focusing on building a strong foundation with their new SF-25 car. The team is prioritizing this car to ensure a strong start to the season, despite the looming changes for the 2026 season, including a move to 50% electrification and fully sustainable fuels .
Footnotes
- Enrichment Data
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Ferrari's 2020 Formula One season was disappointing, resulting in their worst finish amongst constructors in the last 40 years. The team dropped to 6th place in the Constructors' Championship, marking a significant drop from their 3 consecutive 2nd place finishes between 2017 and 2019.
Ferrari achieved 19 podium finishes in 2019 with two drivers recording three wins, including competitions where two finished on the podium . The team's performance in the sport, where continuos improvement is expected, has been concerning, especially considering the season also marked their 1000th Grand Prix.
Given the team's legendary status from drivers such as Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and John Surtees, the question remains, what went wrong and can Ferrari make a comeback in 2021?
Vettel and Leclerc
Sebastian Vettel joined Ferrari in 2015 following a successful stint with Red Bull where he won 4 consecutive world championships. Ferrari expected Vettel to add to their impressive title count, but following a few podium finishes, his performance had been lacking. This situation was further complicated by the arrival of Charles Leclerc, a young, ambitious, and talented driver.
Leclerc displayed exceptional performance in 2019, finishing 7th in the Championship. He won 7 poles, and in one race, he led from the pole position till the finish line. This impressive run highlighted Vettel's underperformance, causing tension within the team .
The tension came to a head when Ferrari announced Vettel would be replaced by Carlos Sainz for the 2021 season, ceding the No.1 driver's position to the young Leclerc . While the choice may have been based on performance, some reports suggested that Vettel was struggling to cope with Leclerc's rise .
Andrew Hamilton, a sports journalist, noted, "Vettel couldn't handle the threat posed by Leclerc. Though it's evident that Vettel wasn't the only one to blame for Ferrari's downturn, he certainly played a part in it" .
Vettel's issues didn't end with Leclerc. The German ace struggled under the pressure of being Ferrari's top driver, leading to multiple incidents and costly mistakes. Some of these incidents were minor, such as losing the lead due to a mistake at the Spanish Grand Prix, while others were more serious, like intentionally crashing into another car, as seen in the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix .
Enrichment Insights
The decline in Ferrari's performance had been a sudden and steep one. In the early 2010s, Ferrari was a force to be reckoned with, boasting a string of impressive performances and wins . But in recent years, the team was failing to live up to their previous standards and was unable to develop a competitive car .
Many attributed the team's decline to their poor performances in the regular seasons, with the moniker 'Scuderia Sluggari' gaining popularity in the field . However, the team's failure was not limited to disappointing results, but also included inconsistencies in their technical performance, poor strategic decisions, and a lack of innovation and ambition .
Regulatory Challenges
One of the primary reasons for Ferrari's struggles was their inability to adapt to the constant changes made to the sport's technical regulations . The team struggled with implementing the hybrid power units, which were introduced in 2014, and their initial attempts to develop a competitive car were unsuccessful .
Additionally, Ferrari faced several regulatory challenges within the course of the 2020 season. In 2019, Ferrari found themselves embroiled in a series of controversies, with the team under investigation by the FIA for suspected irregularities in its power unit .
The regulatory challenges saw the team consistently underperform, with Vettel often finding himself in the midfield . And when the season drew to a close, Ferrari was left with no podium finishes, a far cry from the success the team was known for.
Outlook for 2021
Despite the disappointing 2020 season, Ferrari started the preparations for the 2021 season with renewed optimism and confidence. The team aimed to improve their technical performance, and reinforce their team management, with Italy's Mattia Binotto appointed as team principal .
Mattia Binotto took over as team principal after Maurizio Arrivabene stepped down in late 2018. Binotto had previously worked for Ferrari in various roles, including technical director, and was seen as the natural choice for the job .
Apart from team management, Ferrari also looked to bring in fresh talent, with young gun Mick Schumacher joining the team for the 2021 season as a test driver . They also recruited Simone Resta, a renowned aerodynamicist, to strengthen their technical department .
However, the upcoming season would pose new challenges too, with the introduction of new technical regulations. These regulations, which included changes to the car's aerodynamics and powertrain, put teams under immense pressure to innovate and adapt .
As the new season approached, Ferrari faced uncertainty over their driver lineup. To many, it seemed unlikely that Vettel would continue with the team, and the possibility of replacing him with a new driver began to circulate . Ferrari ultimately decided to stick with Vettel, supporting the German ace as he looked to bounce back and regain his form .
Enrichment Insights
Ferrari has a rich history in Formula One, being one of the sport's founding teams and consistently delivering great results . The team enjoyed tremendous success in the late '90s and early 2000s, with Michael Schumacher dominating the sport and winning multiple world titles.
However, Ferrari's performance in the last few seasons has seen them struggle to match their past glory. The team's struggles have also impacted its leadership, with Ferrari enduring a frequent change in team principals in recent years .
Footnotes
Ferrari's slump in Formula One continued as they struggled to recover from a disappointing 2020 season, ultimately finishing 6th in the Constructors' Championship. With long-time driver Sebastian Vettel showing signs of decline and newcomer Mick Schumacher joining as a test driver, there was much left to be desired within the team.
However, this new opportunity gave Ferrari the chance to make a fresh start and return to their dominant form in the sport. The team announced several changes in an effort to boost their performance, such as the hiring of renowned aerodynamicist Simone Resta and the decision to stick with Vettel for the 2021 season .
As the season began, Ferrari was under immense pressure to show improvement, with 6-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes dominating the field . But with new rules and regulations in place for the 2021 season, there was still hope for a team like Ferrari to turn things around.
And so, the stage was set for Ferrari to rise from the ashes and make a successful comeback .
Enrichment Insights
Ferrari has had a storied history in the sport of Formula One, competing in the first-ever race held in 1950. They quickly made their presence known, winning multiple titles with legendary drivers like Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher, and Sebastian Vettel. Introduced in 1972, the Scuderia Ferrari team adopted their iconic black and red livery, a combination that remains a constant visual expression of the team's spirit and prestige .
October 19, 2020, was a difficult day for Ferrari. Despite their impressive five-time Constructors' Championship win in 2019, the team failed to follow up on their momentum, ultimately finishing 6th in the 2020 Constructors' Championship. The Scuderia Ferrari team and their fans were left disheartened as the season ended .
