Carlos Sainz celebrated the anniversary of his first test at Fiorano, with the Ferrari SF71H… getting into the same car on the same circuit to complete the first day of track testing in 2022. There were 59 laps (176 kilometers) to recover feelings on a cold morning before giving the car in the afternoon to his teammate, Leclerc. Beyond the deja vu, the situation of the man from Madrid has changed a lot in twelve months: from a newcomer to the axis of the team; from a driver with a lot to prove to the author of four podiums and fifth in the World Championship; from the challenge of facing Leclerc to overcoming it.
The team has turned to the car of 2022, which will be presented on February 17 before heading to the Barcelona test (February 23-25, now called shake down) Y Bahrain (February 10-12). The change in aerodynamic regulations is an opportunity to get closer to Mercedes and Red Bull, distracted until December in an intense fight for the World Cup that Verstappen won from Hamilton. Meanwhile, they have made a new power unit to correct the deficiencies of the previous one. In the last third of last season they released part of the hybrid system with very good results from then on. In addition, Maranello underpins a new state-of-the-art simulator which must also be translated into tenths on the track, when the time comes.
Mattia Binotto, team boss, assessed the expectations in the book that summarizes Ferrari’s 2021: “No one can guarantee what the order of the grid will be in the next campaign because the change in rules is radical. For our part, we work very hard to be prepared and we have optimized resources in chassis and aerodynamics, areas that fall under the cost ceiling”. “We won’t have to wait long. to see if it has been enough to shorten the disadvantage that separates us from those who were ahead in 2021″, predicts the Italian-Swiss engineer. At Ferrari, faced with a disappointing 2020, all senior officials were quick to point to 2022 as the course of recovery The medium-term goals come fast.
Sainz’s aspirations this season are linked to the capabilities of the new car. Beyond confirming sooner rather than later an inevitable renewal from 2023 onwards, it remains to fight for victories and pole positions when the car allows it, which is the intermediate step for the Italians before aspiring to the titles. Carlos, 27, a specialist in changing cars (he ran for four factories in five seasons, from 2017 to 2021) will appreciate the stability of a winter without moving. With six podiums in his record (two times second, Monza 2020 and Monaco 2021) and a front row (second on the grid at Sochi 2021), his next step as an F1 driver coincides with what the team that signed him needs.
“Nothing is like driving an F1”
About yesterday’s test, Sainz commented in an official statement: “Many things have changed since a year ago, now I know everyone and I feel at home, but driving here is always special and I was happy to see so many fans from outside. That’s why I went to say hello as soon as the session was over. Like the rest of the riders, right now we’re working a lot on the simulator or gym training. Although nothing resembles driving an F1 car. So being able to drive before the start of the season, regardless of the car (it was a 2018 example, no SF21 permit), is always useful for the driver. It wakes up the body, it reminds you what it means to be an F1 driver”. Leclerc, in the afternoon, did another 48 laps, 143 kilometres.