Ferrari's Troubles: Can Formula 1's Legendary Team Rebound in 2021?
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari's driver, admitted post-race, "It was a tough season for us, and it's a shame how it ended." Despite some advancements in recent races, the team is hopeful of building upon it in the winter, aiming to emerge stronger in 2022.
From finishing second in the constructors' championship from 2017 to 2019, Ferrari slid to sixth place in 2020. In 2019, the team recorded 19 podium finishes, with two drivers bagging three wins each. However, in 2020, the teams only managed to reach the podium three times.
In a sport known for continuous progression, Ferrari's performance is alarming, especially considering it's a year marked by the team's 1,000th Grand Prix celebrations.
"It was indeed a forgettable year for Ferrari," Phil Duncan, a Formula 1 reporter for PA Media, told CNN. "If they finish 2022 in a similar position as this year, it won't be good enough. For a team like Ferrari, they are the most successful in this sport, but since 2007, they have not won another world champion title."
So, what went wrong for Ferrari, a team synonymous with iconic drivers like Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and John Surtees? Is there any hope of a revival in 2021?
The Vettel Conundrum
Ferrari holds an unmatched 16 constructors' titles. Williams, with nine points, is the second-closest.
The Italian team started the new millennium off on a high, with Schumacher leading the team to five constructors' and drivers' championships between 2000 and 2004. Kimi Räikkönen then joined Schumacher to achieve a double in 2007. However, victory came to a halt after that.
Many believe Sebastian Vettel, a four-time world champion, would help add more titles to Ferrari's wins. Vettel achieved back-to-back second-place finishes in the drivers' championship in 2017 and 2018. But with the emergence of the up-and-coming Leclerc, Vettel was surpassed in the following two years.
According to Lawrence Barretto, a leading author at Formula1.com, Leclerc's rise has led to a change in perspective for both Ferrari and Vettel.
"When Charles won seven pole positions and even took the win at the end of the year, it was clear that Sebastian had struggled to live up to expectations that season, and so had Ferrari. I think it particularly affected Sebastian," Barretto told CNN.
Early in the year, Ferrari announced that Vettel would be replaced by Carlos Sainz, indicating that the talented young Leclerc would be the team's future.
However, Duncan is skeptical about blaming Vettel's loss of confidence on Leclerc's rise.
"He went up against Lewis [Hamilton] and Lewis mostly out-performed him," Duncan told CNN. "Since the German Grand Prix in 2018, where he lost the lead, his form has been on a downhill slope."
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Vettel's troubles were not just with Leclerc. Lingering issues from past races started to surface.
In 2017 and 2018, Vettel was involved in a close battle with Lewis Hamilton. However, the latter managed to ultimately repel Vettel's challenges.
The incidents in Azerbaijan were the most glaring example of Vettel's struggles to cope under the pressure from Ferrari's de facto No. 1 driver.
In Azerbaijan, Vettel intentionally drove into the side of Hamilton's car, believing that he had been subjected to a brake test – and in turn, braked intently to force others to brake or to maneuver to avoid an accident. This unnecessary action cost Vettel the potential podium position, with Hamilton claiming the victory.
In 2018, things only got worse. Numerous grid-level penalties and reckless collisions led to several point losses. The events in Germany stand out as the most unsettling.
The repercussions of these mistakes were glaringly evident. Leclerc's average starting position stands at 8.3, while Vettel's stands at 12.2. Additionally, Leclerc's average position (excluding DNFs) is 5.4, while Vettel's stands at 9.2.
Only at the Turkish Grand Prix did Vettel show signs of his former form.
Due to recent renovations and wet weather, driving conditions were challenging. Without the rain, the newly laid asphalt was slippery, making the already challenging weather conditions in Turkey even more challenging. If you gave even a degree too much gas, you would spin out. If you gave in too little, you would struggle to gain any traction.
Ferrari's drivers showcased their talents under these challenging conditions. Vettel managed to finish in third place, while Leclerc finished in fourth.
Ferrari's Performance Woes aren't Paired to Just the Driver or Confidence Issues
Ferrari's poor performance isn't just attributed to Vettel or Leclerc's confidence issues. Under favorable racing conditions, the car simply wasn't up to the mark.
Regulatory Nightmare
Following the United States Grand Prix, Ferrari suffered from regulation clarifications, which required modifications to the motor. Regular inspections by the FIA found no wrongdoing, but the modifications reduced their ability to maintain their performance in the remaining races.
Ferrari insists on their innocence, and in the winter break of that year, Fernandez and the FIA agreed on a 'private agreement' regarding their motor issues – however, the details of this agreement were not disclosed.
Ferrari was also affected by more motor rule changes than any other engine supplier at the start of the 2020 season.
According to records from the Belgian Grand Prix in August 2020, the average speed of the cars was 10 km/h slower compared to 2019. Ferrari's incredible speed in qualifying in 2019 led to Vettel and Leclerc achieving average starting positions of 4.3 and 4.4, while their average results (excluding DNFs) stood at 4.6 and 3.8 respectively.
However, unlike 2019, their performance in 2020 was significantly poorer.
Despite these challenges, Ferrari managed to invest in new cars and engines for 2021 before the budget cap was introduced for the 2022 season.
In an attempt to ensure equal competition standards and put an end to Mercedes' dominance, the budget cap is to be capped at $145 million USD in 2021, $140 million USD in 2022, and $135 million USD between 2023 and 2025.
With 400 million USD per year being allegedly spent by Ferrari, it is essential that they maximize their gains in the 2020 season to prepare for the 2021 season.
"It is expected that (Ferrari) will do as much as possible to win as much as possible by the end of this year and to make the most of its maximum resources," said Barretto. "From the power unit perspective, it's fantastic.
"However, from the aerodynamic standpoint, it will be more challenging for them due to the team’s relative stability and the current year’s regulations. They will have to make significant strides to improve further," Barretto continued.
Ferrari, in a statement to CNN, acknowledged the difficulties faced in the 2020 season.
"But in the second half of the season, we started introducing updates that improved the car's performance and proved that the development is heading in the right direction, although our results did not fully reflect this."
Positive signs, according to Ferrari, point towards a promising 2021, but there are still several challenges that need to be overcome.
"It is true that the bases of the car for development will remain frozen in 2021, but it will be possible to make improvements in certain areas using Tokens," Ferrari explained in a statement. "Then there will be a completely new PU [power unit] under development, which is currently on the test bed – and the feedback has been encouraging."
Team Leadership and Stability
Mattia Binotto, Ferrari team principal, is bucking the trend of the team's frequent leadership changes. Binotto has served as team principal since the end of 2018.
However, the pressure on Binotto remains immense, as he is expected to maintain high standards for a team that has traditionally never contended with midfield finishes.
Sergio Marchionne, the former Ferrari chairman and CEO, exerted pressure on Binotto, while Louis Camilleri took over the role after Marchionne's death in 2018.
"The pressure is so great that you always have your phone on you, day and night, because if he sends you a WhatsApp, you have to respond within 30 seconds," Binotto told Beyond the Grid, a podcast on the life of working under Marchionne.
Camilleri stepped down temporarily as Ferrari CEO just before the final Grand Prix weekend of the 2020 season and was replaced by John Elkann temporarily.
"As for a possible reshuffle in the team management due to the team's performance in this season, Ferrari in a statement said, 'During the 2020 season, Ferrari's technical department was reorganized to improve efficiency and ensure better performance.'"
"The structure of Ferrari's Scuderia continues to evolve and is preparing for the introduction of new regulations in 2021. Regarding Team Principal Mattia Binotto, the team's top management continues to support him fully," Ferrari stated.
Renewal of Hope
In 2021, Ferrari hopes that the arrival of Carlos Sainz will aid in the team's recovery.
Barretto believes that Sainz will bring "leadership" to the team following his two-year stint at McLaren.
"He will be the first person to drive into the factory and make a push for more performance – and as soon as he arrives at the factory, he will influence everyone else to make the same push," Barretto told CNN.
According to Sainz, "I will be the first in the factory pushing for more performance and I'll be pushing everyone else to make the same push."
"It's a long way – they need to take a massive step to return to where we all are, but if anyone can do it, it's Ferrari," Sainz told Auto Bild.
Unfortunately for Ferrari, a team not accustomed to fighting in the midfield, their 2021 goals are likely to be just that – hopeful aspirations. Even Barretto is not overly optimistic about the team making significant improvements this season. With the restrictive regulations for 2021, Ferrari is realistically looking forward to more substantial improvements in the 2022 season.
"The 2021 regulations don't offer them the unstable chances, and I think they are being realistic about the fact that while they can make improvements this year, the significant gains will come in 2022," Barretto elaborated.
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"Despite Ferrari's long-standing success in motorsports, the team experienced a difficult season in the Formula 1 championship, placing lower than expected on the constructors' standings and struggling for consistency throughout the year."
"However, Ferrari has already started working towards improving its performance for the 2021 season, focusing on optimizing its technical department and creating new power units in an attempt to regain its former glory."
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