SEASON PREVIEW: The hopes and fears for every Ferrari fan in 2021

Before the new Formula 1 season starts, let’s take a look at how 2021 will develop for each of the 10 starting teams. And we speak of extremes when we outline the best and worst scenarios they might face. Today Ferrari is in our spotlight.

HOPE: A return to top 3 action after Sainz’s arrival

We’re doing these features in reverse constructor order, so most Ferrari fans hope they won’t see their team anytime soon when it’s replicated in 12 months. Last year Ferrari fell a little out of favor, from a strong second in the overall standings to sixth overall and regularly in the lower midfield.

But the engine was identified as the biggest weak point and could only be repaired over the winter, while the high aerodynamic drag of the car could also be worked on. So the options were there to ensure 2021 gets a lot better from a competitive standpoint.

READ MORE: Ferrari was keen to improve the SF21 “in all areas,” says Binotto as the team unveils the challenger for 2021

There are high hopes that the SF21 will be a significant improvement over its predecessor

And while the Tifosi were sad that Sebastian Vettel’s time at Maranello ended in a disappointing way last season, the promise of Carlos Sainz’s arrival is another cause for optimism. Sainz had a really strong relationship with Lando Norris at McLaren while doing an excellent job on track and the hope is that the Spaniard can do the same at Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc delivered some incredible results in a non-competitive car in 2020, but if Sainz brings his previous form he should take the Monegas to new heights and has the potential to do so while maintaining a positive atmosphere with the team.

READ MORE: The atmosphere at Ferrari is already better after the “strange” 2020, says Leclerc

It’s a long way from Ferrari to race wins last year, but the midfield is so dense that finishing in the top three is definitely a realistic goal.

There is room for clear improvement from the perspective of the car, the drive unit and the driver, and Ferrari has tried to take every aspect into account. Clicking on any of these areas will move them forward quickly.

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FEAR: The drivers collide and problems lie deeper than the aggregate

The term “fear of the unknown” has a reason – when you change things, you don’t know exactly what is going to happen. And that opens up the possibility of things going badly.

Ferrari made a mistake with its car in 2020 and was also unable to run a competitive engine. Even if the off-season provided an opportunity to address these shortcomings, there are concerns that they are still deviating from the pace.

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Despite the relative highs of three podiums last year, the season ended with just a single point from the last three races, at a time when Ferrari was able to improve on some of its weaknesses.

Form wasn’t good, and despite working over the winter, there was nothing to suggest they’d escaped midfield in pre-season testing.

Will Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc’s relationship stay harmonious if they’re on the right track?

If this is the area Ferrari is still in, they will be even more reliant on drivers taking every opportunity to try to score their rivals. But that also requires the drivers to get along well and there are concerns that Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz could end up on a collision course.

Sainz and Max Verstappen had a difficult relationship at Toro Rosso and after a year at Renault his time at McLaren was more harmonious, but it was Sainz’s experience that led him to lead the team more than Norris.

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Now he has a dream move to Ferrari, where Leclerc already has a long-term contract, and the older Sainz has to put his authority on the team to make sure he doesn’t get cast in number two.

Leclerc won’t want that, of course, but could understandably be frustrated if the car isn’t competitive again after signing a Binotto headache at Maranello by the end of 2024.