Only a “bad situation” in 2021 will change the focus on the plans for F1 2022

Although Ferrari has had a disappointing 2020 season, it is open that it can’t wait to fight at the top again next year.

It has set itself the minimum goal of third place in the constructors’ championship, but also knows that this will be a difficult challenge due to the strength of its closest competitors.

Team boss Mattia Binotto is however clear that Ferrari cannot have another bad season next year, but it would also be wrong to concentrate too much effort on this campaign because the price of not being at its best in 2022 will be too high.

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“I think 2022 will be more important than 2021,” he said. “That’s because we’re opening a new technical era in 2022. And if you somehow have to fill a gap by the beginning of 2022, it will be more difficult in the following season.

“So I certainly think that 2022 will be the top priority next year. [In terms of] Developing the car, I think we’ll be working sometime on 2021 [car]It’s just because the situation is ultimately worse than expected, or because some activity is required in 2021 to learn in order to do something better for 2022. “

With a completely new engine in the works and a push to develop a less dragging car, Ferrari has some hopes that despite focusing on 2022, it can still make progress next year.

“I think that we as Ferrari cannot accept a season similar to 2020,” he said. “So we definitely have to do something better than what we’ve done up to now.

“I think if I look at how we’re developing the car, I have hope that the season will be better. But you never know until you’re on the track and somehow compare.” to the others.

“I think it will be important not to have a difficult season like 2020. So the minimum would be to fight for a better position.”

Also, Binotto has no illusions that only hard work will help Ferrari return to its former glory, as it cannot rely on its history to change things.

“We first have to be aware of where we are today,” he said. “The sixth [place in the] I think we have to accept the constructors’ championship with humility, because we are not just getting better because we are Ferrari.

“We’ll get better in the end because everyone will do a better job than in the past. And for that we need full determination and clear ambitions, which I’m pretty sure the team has today.”