Leclerc - New Ferrari car is 'quite a good step'

Calum Gill 18:30 26/02/2021

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has said that his team's 2021 challenger is 'quite a good step' up from last year's car, but admits it is to early to predict how well it will do this season.

The Maranello based outfit endured there worst season last year since 1980, with the team only coming in in sixth place in the constructors championship, finishing behind the likes of Racing Point (now Aston Martin) and Renault (now Alpine F1 Team).

The Monegasque said: "There has been a lot of work. We have been pushing quite a lot".

"It always looks positive on paper but then we need to see what the others have done as a step"

The 23-year-old was speaking at the Ferrari team launch on Friday, alongside team principle Mattia Binotto and new team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr

It is believed by many that the reason for Ferrari's downfall was through sanctions given out by the FIA for their 2019 engines, slowing down the famous red cars last year. And although Binotto maintains his stance that his team did not break any rules, they have developed a new engine for this season, with the aim of eradicating its predecessor's weaknesses.

He said: "The main issue was the straight-line speed last year - not only power but power and drag. We have worked a lot on the power-unit and the aerodynamics to reduce the drag. And based on what we can see we recovered quite a lot of speed on the straights."

I am expecting the speed not to be as much of an issue as it was. I hope we can be competitive but we believe it is certainly more efficient, both from the aero and power-unit point of view."

The SF21 launches on Wednesday, 10th March

Binotto said: "We know we need to do better in 2021. What will count more is our will to win. I am not saying we will win. We have to be realistic - there have been cars that are very strong last year and with the cars partially frozen will be very strong again in 2021."But will to win is our commitment, our intention, being aware that details count, determination will be important and showing progress. That is what I am expecting."