Under current cost-cutting regulations, F1 teams are allowed 40 trips in their wind tunnels, compared to 65 in previous seasons.
But the use of the wind tunnel is also defined by the results on the track, with the worst performing teams being given extra runs based on their final placement in the Constructors’ Championship last year.
Due to the win of last year’s championships, Mercedes’ wind tunnel tests were limited to 90% of the base amount for 2021, which means 36 runs.
With Ferrari going through its worst season since 1980 with sixth place overall, the Maranello team was granted 102.5% usage.
This only meant one extra run, according to Binotto, who said the impact on the car’s performance was minimal, as the extra time in the wind tunnel equates to one week of development.
“Of course we have a little more time in the wind tunnel for the position we finished last year,” said Binotto. “The extra time we have is what we call sessions of the wind tunnel throughout the season, so it’s an extra session.
“And usually one extra training session is a development week, and typically a development week is less than 0.1 seconds per lap.
“So yeah, it’s definitely an advantage, but it’s less than 0.1 seconds per lap.
“It’s still important, I’m still happy to have it, not because of last year’s result, but because at least it’s something we have in 2021. But we don’t think that’s a game changer. It’s not, ”he added.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF21, 2nd position, waves from his cockpit on the way to Parc Ferme
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
Ferrari was one of the most improved teams in 2021 and is currently third in the constructors’ championship with McLaren with 163 points.
Charles Leclerc started from pole position at both the Monaco Grand Prix and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with both the Monegasque (British GP) and teammate Carlos Sainz Jr (Monaco and Hungarian GP) finishing on the podium.
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Ferrari won its last victory in the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix with Sebastian Vettel.
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