F1 | Ferrari, Mekies: “Maximize the SF21 package”

Ferrari is still brooding over the fourth place achieved in the Azerbajan GP in which, starting from pole, it was unable to get onto a podium that seemed within reach.

Sports director Laurent Mekies, in the days preceding the French GP at Paul Ricard, spoke both about the past race and the imminent future, explaining how the objective of the Red Team - already focused on 2022 - is to bring out the maximum from the SF21 package, working on the set-up and understanding of the single-seater.

It is clear that the Cavallino's major efforts are all aimed at designing the next single-seater, without however losing sight of the current season, considering the general competitiveness shown by the SF21 and the objective of third place in the Constructors' Championship.

“Considering the very limited development we are ready to play compromise, aware that there will be tracks where we will be on the attack and others where we will necessarily have to defend ourselves. However, this does not mean that we will give up, our goal is to maximize the SF21 package – so Mekies declared to the French Auto Hebdo – Let's try to understand the car, to understand why we are stronger in the slow sections than in the fast ones, all to find a better balance in order to go fast in any situation. On the engine front we expect something to happen towards the end of the season."

Ferrari faces Paul Ricard also with the aim of forgetting the disappointment of missing the podium in Azerbajan:

“Despite Charles' super pole we knew that Red Bull and Hamilton would soon pass – continued the sports director regarding the Baku GP – If there is any frustration, it comes from losing position to Gasly after the first pit stop and to Vettel on the restart after the safety car. Fourth place was a bit of a disappointment because our race pace was good, we're sorry to have thrown away some precious points."