Despite the fact that in Monte Carlo Ferrari was able to score its first pole position of the season with Charles Leclerc and gained an excellent second place thanks to the convincing performance of Carlos Sainz, for the Maranello team the expectations are not as high in Baku.
Although the second sector of the Azerbaijani track will somewhat help the strong characteristics of the SF21, the high-speed corners will put the Ferrari car in difficulty, while the power defici compared to the Honda and Mercedes engines will be felt a lot in the final sector of the track, where the section of 2.2 km that is tackled flat out to reach turn 1 will be crucial to get a good lap time.
The Maranello technicians preferred to concentrate on understanding the car in this 2021 season, aware that the little time available to develop the SF21 would not have brought better results. With most of the efforts being made towards the new regulatory era, compound management and package optimization therefore provide superior benefits. Although the SF21 shares the chassis with its “unfortunate” cousin SF1000, the tokens spent at the rear have definitely improved things. The balancing compared to last season is no longer an issue, with the drivers being able to provide the necessary feedback for the tuning of the car.
After the Moanco parenthesis, in which Norris still managed to limit the damage by reaching the lowest step of the podium, McLaren is ready to launch the counterattack. The fight with Ferrari for third place has just begun. Having the engine power and efficiency of the German PU, on paper the MCL35M starts as favourite in this particular challenge. The Ferrari technicians will have to be good at finding the right compromise, to guarantee a good speed on the straights while maintaining high competitiveness in the sectors they lead. In addition to the aero-mechanical balance it will be crucial to choose the correct configuration of the hybrid, to “spread” the power given by the electric component. In this regard, the lower power of the ICE in relation to competitors has made the blanket often too short. Despite the very cautious approach indicated by Laurent Mekies, Ferrari is convinced they can still have an excellent weekend.
Also decisive in the fight for third place was the contribution of Daniel Ricciardo, a driver who so far has certainly not excelled at the wheel of McLaren and who in Monte Carlo reached the lowest moment of his experience with McLaren. Results on his part are urgently needed for McLaren, while Ferrari will be hoping Carlos Sainz continues to impressive form.
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