Ferrari confident of 2021 power unit gains

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto is confident of again unlocking performance from the power unit for 2021.

The Scuderia has been stymied on two fronts this season with regard to its PU, leading to what Formula 1's managing director motorsports Ross Brawn has described as a horrific weekend in Belgium.

The technical directives issued at the end of last season with regard to fuel flow and oil-burning have proven to have a detrimental effect on Ferrari, in particular, with the team also hampered by the fact the power units could not be developed this season.

Binotto, though, believes progress is being made that will help its cause for next season, which will hopefully appease new signing Carlos Sainz who has made it clear Ferrari requires a very big step for 2021.

Assessing the plans in the pipeline to help the team out of its slump, Binotto said: "The engine is frozen for this season, so there's nothing we can do on that.

"We are developing it for next year. It's progressing well on the dyno at the moment, so that's one side of the plan for us.

"The main plan is focusing on the next seasons, not just 2021, but certainly as well 2022. In order to do well in the next seasons, we are going to try to understand the weaknesses of today and make sure we are the best we can be."

Whether Binotto is given time to continue the overhaul after only stepping into his role in January of last year remains to be seen.

Quizzed on who is responsible for Ferrari's current failings, whether he was the right man to lead them out of trouble, and if so, how much time he would be given, he replied: "Who is responsible? The entire team is responsible, and myself, as team principal, first.

"Am I the right man? Not myself to answer. How long it will take? If we look back at the unique cycles that have been set, it's always many years. There are no silver bullets in F1. Passion and study is required."

Pressed on whether he was confident he was the right person and that time was on his side, he added: "I am trying to do my best to achieve it."

Before you go...

Five talking points from the Belgian Grand Prix

Bottas: I'd rather stay at home than throw in the towel

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