Ferrari launch SF21 car for 2021 Formula 1 season with new engine and hope of much-improved form
Ferrari reveal their 2021 challenger, which features new engine, revised rear suspension and reworked livery; F1 pre-season testing begins at 7am on Friday live on Sky Sports F1
By James Galloway
Last Updated: 10/03/21 10:23pm
Ferrari will attempt to make an immediate recovery from their worst season in 40 years with the new SF21 car, which was finally unveiled on the eve of pre-season testing.
The final team to present their car for 2021, the Scuderia's latest challenger features an all-new power unit and revisions to the rear as Ferrari bid to make a big improvement on last year's sixth place in the Constructors' Championship.
Although bedecked in the Prancing Horse's famous red, the team's livery has been notably reworked for 2021 with a historic burgundy shade at the rear and green branding for sponsorship reasons on the engine cover.
But of more significance to the team's fortunes in 2021 will be the performance improvements they have managed to make over the winter.
- Introducing the 2021 Formula 1 cars
- Testing preview: The Sky F1 team on pre-season's big talking points
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Although development improvements teams can make from last year's cars have been limited like never before on cost grounds amid the pandemic, Ferrari have made clear they have worked hard to maximise the areas they can develop.
Key to this will be rediscovering lost performance from their engine, where development has remained unrestricted over the winter.
Ferrari fell to the foot of the F1's power stakes last year in the wake of a private settlement with the FIA and a number of engine-related technical directives the previous winter, and have now introduced a "completely new" engine for 2021.
A revised layout for the turbo is among the changes.
"This car was born out of last year's car due to the new regulations so it was partially frozen, but we tried to improve it in all of its areas, wherever it was possible," said team boss Mattia Binotto.
"The aerodynamics was revised, and it has a completely new power unit. Its livery has also changed, the posterior is a burgundy colour similar to the very first Ferrari racing car, the 125S.
"It's the same colour we used last year at Mugello to celebrate our 1000th Grand Prix. This year is going to be full of challenges.
"Visually, we've drawn on our history but we're also looking towards the future, which will always be defined by our Ferrari red."
The SF21 also features a revised nose, while the team also confirmed changes to the car's transmission.
Carlos Sainz has replaced Sebastian Vettel next to Charles Leclerc in Ferrari's driver line-up. They will drive the SF21 for the first time in a filming day in Bahrain on Thursday ahead of the start of pre-season testing live on Sky Sports F1 on Friday morning from 7am.
F1 Testing live on Sky Sports F1
New-look cars. New driver and team combinations. And just three days of track testing to get up to speed before the new Formula 1 season begins.
There's never been a pre-season testing schedule quite like this - and you can watch it all live on Sky Sports F1 from next Friday as Formula 1 2021 gets fully up and running with three days of action in Bahrain.
With coverage starting early morning on March 12 and running through the weekend, Sky F1 will be the place to be to watch the eight hours of live track action from each day - plus a nightly Round-up show and Ted's Testing Notebook.
