After the 2020 F1 season, Ferrari suffered a massive setback for the engine. Compared to the others, the once-feared engine lacked a significant amount of power. In addition, the misery did not end with Ferrari, it also drew its customers into the background.
One of the victims, Alfa Romeo, looked pretty optimistic about the 2020 season given the team’s rapid performance increase. However, their expectations simply ended in agony as their Ferrari-made powerplant lacked straight-line speed, leaving them vulnerable even to the struggling Williams.
In addition, Alfa Romeo was virtually alone on the grid, confining their on-track battle to Williams and Haas. With new engines to come from Maranello before the 2021 season, Alfa Romeo can finally revive its hopes.
Fire starts from the car of Kimi Raikkonen from Finland who drives the (7) Alfa Romeo Racing C39 Ferrari during practice prior to the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Getty Images / Getty Images)
But can they catch up on the packed midfield battle?
Well, Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi announced that the Italian team is finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel thanks to Ferrari’s efforts under pressure.
Giovinazzi optimistic about the new Ferrari engine
In an interview with RTL, Giovinazzi emphasized that the newly developed engine could play an important role in the team’s potential success in the 2021 season.
“I hope we can get closer to AlphaTauri or midfield,” he said. “And yes, the aggregate will be important.”
In addition, the first signs of Maranello are quite positive as the reds look more comfortable this time around. So Ferrari and its customer teams could turn up the heat this year after their brief absence from the spotlight.
“Yes! They are positive,” he said. “We don’t know how much we’re going to win, mainly because we don’t know how much the others are improving.
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and France during the final practice session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Peter J Fox / Getty Images)
“So we’ll only know that in Bahrain. But the good thing about Ferrari is a positive atmosphere, especially for the power unit, what they did with the engines. “
In the 2021 season, three teams will drive with a Ferrari engine in the rear – Ferrari itself, Alfa Romeo and Haas. Of course, the dancing horse was finally able to take the lead in midfield. However, the focus will be entirely on the two bottom field teams.
Haas and Alfa Romeo were two of the most unpredictable teams on the grid.
Will the unpredictability flow into the two Ferrari-powered teams this time around?
Will they finally be able to occasionally toss items on their designer’s list and watch them rise to midfield?
Let’s see what the future brings.
Continue reading: Which teams use Ferrari engines in F1?
The post “The atmosphere is positive” – Giovinazzi gives indications of a highly competitive Ferrari engine for the F1 season in 2021 first appeared on monter-une-startup.
