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Have Ferrari Accepted Losing F1 Battle to McLaren? Director Mekies Makes a Worrying Revelation
With Formula 1 switching to an all-new car concept from the 2022 season, Ferrari has decided not to make any further developments to their current SF21. Furthermore, Ferrari director Laurent Mekies admits that Prancing Horses focused on the development of next year’s car.
The performance of Scuderia Ferrari has been exceptional in qualifying, notably during the qualifications at Azerbaijan and Monaco Grand Prix. Where Charles Leclerc secured consecutive pole positions.
However, it is the opposite on Sunday where the Reds cannot replicate their qualifying pace in the Main Race.
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What did Laurent Mekies say?
Ahead of the French Grand Prix, Ferrari Director Laurent Mekies revealed the Maranello-based team have made their intention clear to focus entirely upon the next year’s car, and are not developing this year’s car any further.
“From a car development point of view, we have already made our decisions. It is all on 2022, and there will be no real upgrade coming to improve these weaknesses [on the SF21],” said Ferrari’s Racing Director and Head of Track Area, Laurent Mekies.
However, the French engineer admitted Ferrari will continue to work upon their current SF21 to identify its weaknesses.
“You can always work on [the issues] by simply understanding them better, and if you understand them better – either because you correlate them better or you simply understand what are the reasons for which we are performing a bit less in those conditions – it can open the door to solutions that you can already apply,” added Mekies.
“And that’s why for us, even though the car is the same as the previous races, it’s still a good challenge to come here after a few races where we have enjoyed a lot of slow-speed corners, but to see: how did we improve something, did we understand more? And this is how we try to battle with this weekend.”
Ferrari to compete with McLaren for P3
Ferrari are way behind the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship. And with the machinery they have at their disposal this season, it is quite unlike they would match the pace of Red Bull and Mercedes.
Therefore, Ferrari’s realistic opponent would be McLaren, who sits just two points behind the Prancing Horses at P4.
The primary objective of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz is to take P3 in the Constructors’ standings, the best finish which Ferrari could aim for this season.
Can Ferrari compete with the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes with their new car next season? What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.
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