290 and 0.7. These numbers, apparently say nothing. Instead, they are the icon of what Ferrari’s 2021 F1 season has been like. The first figure represents the gap in points from world champion Mercedes. A big gap, but certainly less deep than the abyss from 2020, which shows how much work there is still to be done in Maranello to reduce a technical deficit explained by that decimal that stands out.
0,7 is the average lap time deficit that the SF21 had as compared to the forerunner. This is not a small gap to recover, it is not a step that normally reduces from one season to the next. Unless something bigger intervenes to shuffle the on-track values. And this something is the regulation change that the teams are working for ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
Change is an opportunity and Ferrari cannot miss the chance to take advantage of it. Obviously, the regulation change alone cannot be enough to resolve the long-standing issues of a team that has not been able to score a race win in the last two years. The Italian side’s problems date back to 2019, when some technical directives limited the effectiveness of an engine which, especially in qualifying, was able to show an incredible power, that had made the opponents raise their eyebrows. Many will remember the acid words of Max Verstappen about the alleged irregularity of the Ferrari six-cylinder.
During the following winter, the Scuderia and the FIA made into a confidential agreement which evidently resulted in the weakening of the power unit that, combined with a truly unsuccessful chassis and aerodynamic project, generated one of the worst seasons in the glorious history of the Maranello team.
In 2021 something has changed: the gap from the top has been significantly reduced. But not enough to lead to dreams of glory. It is precisely on the power unit side that the attentions of the Italian engineers have concentrated in view of the season that kicks off in March, in Bahrain. Ferrari has been working since last season to fix engine problems. In fact, during 2021 it introduced a new hybrid system that guaranteed a significant improvement in performance. The electrical component in question is the basis of the energy recovery system of the 2022 project.
But the news does not stop there: Ferrari has also developed other areas of the V6 that will be used until 2026, the year of the next regulation change. The changes were necessary, in part to optimize the design for the new 10% ethanol fuels that Formula 1 will adopt in 2022, but mainly to overcome the power deficit that still exists. It was Mattia Binotto himself who confirmed that the engine is significantly different from the current one except for the hybrid part which, in any case, will be subject to some marginal revisions for 2022. Nothing that will change from what was presented during the 2021 season.
The area on which the greatest differences will take place is that relating to the internal combustion engine (ICE) which will be very different from the previous model. The new fuel with 10% ethanol has forced drastic changes to the combustion chamber. The different blend will result in a loss of about 20 horsepower. A loss in Ferrari that they plan to recover with chemical research.
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The new blend offered by the oil giant Shell is giving excellent results on the test bench. According to information gathered, the fossil-ethanol hybrid compound has significantly improved the performance of the latest Ferrari power unit equipped with new hybrid technology. There are many development opportunities and they take place in many areas. Combustible substances is one of them.
Of course, another very hot front – perhaps the main one – is represented by the interpretation of the new aerodynamic rules.
Those defined by the FIA are very restrictive rules that may not even work at all. Despite this, Mattia Binotto made it known that there is still room for innovation and that Ferrari has pursued new concepts even under the body, where the prying eyes of the adversaries arrive later. Not only the engine, therefore, but also the suspension design has been invested in a great deal of work that should finally bring down one of the Achilles heels of the latest single-seaters created in Maranello.
All the news in recent weeks should allow Ferrari to look forward to 2022 with confidence. But will they be enough to bring it back to the top of the category? Can the distance with Mercedes and Red Bull be reduced? Mattia Binotto is targeting some race wins but is excluding, with an attitude that could just be a tactic, to be able to compete for the championship right away. The gap is still considered too great and a pragmatic manager cannot proclaim victory without having elements he can count on.
The new rules leave everything in fog. It is not possible to know exactly where Ferrari is or where the rivals are. Hence words of caution and moderation. In general, however, in Maranello they expect, especially at the start of the season, that there will be a difference in competitiveness between the cars due to the way in which each team may have interpreted the rules.
What will be important for Ferrari is to be able to understand the weaknesses with diligence and deal with them just as quickly. The greater number of wind tunnel and CFD hours guaranteed by the regulatory balance of performance could be of help for the Prancing Horse in its progress. The team’s ability to react to any and not desired initial difficulties will be fundamental.
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