Ferrari is to use its development tokens to address the rear end of its Formula 1 car ahead of the 2021 season, as it prepares to bring the final part of its current update package to Portugal this weekend.
Ferrari is in the midst of its worst season in 40 years, holding only sixth in the standings, amid problems with its SF1000, which has struggled both aerodynamically and in terms of power output.
The team has brought updates to its draggy SF1000 in recent events and the last part of that package will include refinements to the car’s diffuser at Portimao.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic Formula 1 teams will retain their current chassis for 2021 but limited development, in the form of a token system, has been allowed ahead of next season.
It will allow teams to make revisions to their respective cars and Ferrari says it has identified the rear as its main area to tackle.
“With the proviso that each team has its own design philosophy, our belief is that the rear end offers the biggest margin for improvement,” said Head of Performance Development Enrico Cardile.
“I say that not just because it’s the area of the car where pretty significant changes have been introduced in the technical regulations, but also we believe that because of the way our car is laid out, we could really make significant progress.
“That’s why we’ve decided to spend our two tokens allowed in the rules, in this very area.
“Because next year, it will not be permitted to modify all the basic components of the car, but only some and the FIA sets a token allocation for each of them, with all teams having two tokens available.”
Cardile says Ferrari should now be consistently aiming to battle for the lead midfield positions at grands prix across the remainder of the campaign.
It has not finished a race as the third-best team since Charles Leclerc classified fourth at the second Silverstone encounter.
“The most important thing is to get confirmation that our development is on the right track,” he said.
“Indications from the past few Grands Prix are positive and we hope the same will apply this weekend.
“We have to consider that, more than ever this year, development is aimed at the following season.
“All the same, we still expect to see a performance improvement with the SF1000: it would be very useful to at least find ourselves heading the group of cars and drivers currently fighting within just a few tenths for places four and lower.”
