Ferrari fires up 2021 F1 car and confirms split launch dates
Ferrari fired up the engine on its 2021 Formula 1 car for the first time on Friday morning as the team confirmed its launch plans ahead of the new season.
The team will conduct two digital launch events, the first being a team event on 26 February and the second - where it will reveal its 2021 car - on 10 March, just two days prior to the start of pre-season testing in Bahrain.
The SF21, which will be driven by Charles Leclerc and new signing Carlos Sainz, was successfully fired up for the first time at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters on Friday morning.
The 2021 season starts here #essereFerrari #SF21 pic.twitter.com/1LfRYQFiqu
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 12, 2021
Ferrari is looking to recover from a woeful 2020 campaign in which it slipped to sixth place in the constructors’ championship, marking its worst result in 40 years.
“Our 2021 season starts here” said team principal Mattia Binotto. “We can expect plenty of challenges along the way and we are determined to do better.
“The car has been improved in all areas where developments are permitted. We must work in a determined and focused way, aware of where we were and where we want to go.”
Ferrari is the sixth team to confirm its launch plans, with McLaren becoming the first outfit to reveal its 2021 challenger, the MCL35M, on Monday 15 February.
That will be followed by AlphaTauri’s launch four days later on Friday 19 February, before Alfa Romeo travels to Warsaw to take the covers off its C41 car on 22 February.
Reigning world champions Mercedes will unveil its W12 on 2 March, with Williams launching its FW43B on Friday 5 March.
