Return to F1’s top three the “minimum objective” for Ferrari in 2021 - Binotto

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says a return to Formula 1’s top three should be the “minimum objective” for his side during the 2021 season.

The Italian outfit is aiming to bounce back from a dire 2020 campaign in which Ferrari recorded its worst result since 1980 by finishing a lowly sixth place in the constructors’ championship.

Binotto says he is confident Ferrari can enjoy a much stronger 2021 with a new power unit showing early signs of encouraging improvement.

"I'm pretty sure that this year will make us stronger for the future," he told reporters in a video call replacing Ferrari’s traditional pre-Christmas media lunch at Maranello.

"Third is not impossible, I think that should be our minimum objective for next season.

"I think we will be back to being competitive as a power unit; we will not be the lowest in the field.”

In December, Ferrari was left surprised by the news that Louis Camilleri would be standing down from his position as chief executive with immediate effect, with chairman John Elkann taking over on an interim basis.

Despite losing a key supporter, Binotto insisted that Camilleri’s departure would have no impact on the team’s plans for the future, adding that he had “the full trust and the full support” of Elkann and vice-president Piero Ferrari.

"There are no changes in our plans, no changes in what is our future," he explained.

"I know that my time is not infinite, certainly. I am pretty aware of the fact that...as a team we need to do well and myself as well as principal to do well in the next seasons.”

Ferrari will field a revised driver line-up for the 2021 season having signed Carlos Sainz from McLaren to partner Charles Leclerc.

The team has confirmed that its 2021 car will named the SF21.