What a difference a year makes – or not – depending on which area of the F1 sphere you want to search.
Yes, we lost another Grand Prix in 2021. This time it’s Suzuka, or the Japanese Grand Prix for the layman.
This exciting season, a purist track, loses one of the traditional Formula 1 venues and the stage of some of the biggest championship wins in the past. It was also taken from us in 2020. Déjà-vu.
Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes W10 leads Sebastian Vettel from Germany in the Scuderia Ferrari SF90 on lap one during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at the Suzuka Circuit. Image: Dan Istitene / Getty Images
2019 was the last time we saw the Silver Arrows (when they were actually silver) and co-followers stun through their winding “straights” in southern Japan.
Ferrari was directly on pole this weekend. No red flags. No steward investigations. If ever there was a sign that the world has changed drastically.
The Maranello outfit tried its hand at a few other famous sport venues in 2020. The less that is said about these efforts, the better.
Twelve months ago the lame show jumpers were literally put to sleep in Spa Francorchamps.
Twelve months ago the lame show jumpers were literally put to sleep in Spa Francorchamps. PICTURED: STEPHANIE LECOCQ / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
After Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel failed to overcome the Q2 fence – once only a hurdle for Ferrari – could not take the reins on Sunday and crossed the finish line outside of the points.
It is worth remembering that Leclerc scored his first F1 victory in the same location 12 months earlier.
The Belgian circuit – on which Ferrari icon Michael Schumacher made his F1 debut – will host again when the sport returns from its summer break at the end of August.
Fortunately for those who wear red pants, things are uphill.
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 23: Carlos Sainz Jr. poses after the podium ceremony at the Monaco F1 Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco on May 23, 2021 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Image: Pascal Le Segretain / WireImage
Ferrari’s lack of engine power has been well documented since its controversial and confidential settlement with the FIA.
And in 2020, their engine shortage was made worse by an aerodynamically awkward type of car. Ferrari not only lost on the straights, but also decisively in the corners.
Her improvement in the latter was amazing. While their engine lacks the power of Mercedes and Honda, the chassis has grown by leaps and bounds.
At the start of this season, Ferrari was the fastest team in Monaco – a track where performance is ruined in favor of slow cornering pace.
Pole position qualifier Charles Leclerc from Monaco and Ferrari celebrates in Parc Ferme. Image: Dan Istitene – Formula 1 / Formula 1 via Getty Images
As for their engine fights? They too could soon be a thing of the past.
Team boss Mattia Binotto has announced a “significant” engine upgrade for the second half of the season.
“We will bring an engine development with us,” he told the media representatives.
“To clarify the regulations for 2021, in 2021 you may have a brand new engine. This means that you can update all the components of the powerplant – internal combustion engine, turbo, MGU-H, batteries, MGU-K, etc.
Team boss Mattia Binotto has announced a “major” engine upgrade that will come into effect sometime in the second half of the season. Image: Marco Canoniero / LightRocket via Getty Images
“What we did at the beginning of the season, we didn’t complete all of the engine development, so there are still components from last year. We will bring a further development of this.
“That will be an important step for us at the end of the season. But it will be more important for us with a view to 2022. “
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has lamented Ferrari’s disadvantage on the straights when competing with rival McLaren in recent months. But the newly acquired Spaniard has adapted seamlessly to his new environment.
With Sainz and Leclerc, Ferrari has the strongest driver pairing in the field. Both men have contributed almost equally to the teams cause and will have no problem maximizing upcoming benefits.
Carlos Sainz from Spain and Ferrari and Charles Leclerc from Monaco and Ferrari speak at the pit wall on the first day of F1 testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on March 12, 2021 in Bahrain, Bahrain. Image: Joe Portlock / Getty Images
Meanwhile, in the face of Daniel Ricciardo’s fights, McLaren is fighting with one hand behind his back. P3 in the constructors’ championship looks very achievable for the Scuderia.
But if significant technical improvements and a world-class driver pairing are not enough – Binotto’s latest feelings will surely inspire the Tifosi.
Ferrari has made no secret of its efforts to put things back in order in 2022.
And Binotto stuck his neck out and said that anything but a title fight will be a “failure”.
“It’s no secret, our goal is to win the world title as soon as possible,” said Binotto via Scuderia fans.
“We are aiming hard for 2022 due to the new aerodynamics regulations.
“The fight for the title next year is a must. We work hard for this: otherwise we would have done everything wrong. A mistake. ‘
Strong feelings from the Ferrari boss. Better times are in sight.
cash Extra.ie‘S weekly column The Undercut for a weekly detailed insight into the happenings of the F1 season 2021.
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