Ferrari set to introduce “significant” engine upgrade for second half of F1 2021

The Italian manufacturer moved into third in the constructors’ championship after the Hungarian Grand Prix last time out, level on points with McLaren.

After enduring its worst year in over 40 years in 2020, the Scuderia has enjoyed a sizable step forward in performance, in terms of its chassis but also power unit.

With Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz already on their third engines for the season, it’s likely both drivers will serve penalties at some point later on in the campaign to make use of Ferrari’s upgraded engine.

“We will bring a power unit development,” Binotto said. “To clarify the regulations for 2021, you may have a brand new power unit in 2021. It means you can bring an update in all components of the power unit – the ICE, turbo, MGU-H, batteries, MGU-K etc.

“What we made at the start of the season, we didn’t complete the entire power unit development so there are still components which are the ones of last year. We will bring an evolution of those ones. That will be for us, a significant step for the end of the season. But more important for us, it will be experience in view of 2022.”

Binotto is confident of holding off McLaren in the race for third should his outfit continue to make improvements in the second half of the season.

“The objective is to improve in all the areas,” Binotto added. “If we are capable of doing that, continuously improving, I think the outcome will be third.

“Being third is certainly a positive objective. We are third at the moment, equal points but we are third. Team is doing well and we are improving. I think we can achieve it, that’s no question. But it has to be a consequence of us improving in all areas.”