Enrico Cardile(Head of Chassis Area) David Sanchez(Chief Engineer - Vehicle Concept) Fabio Montecchi(Chief Project Engineer) Diego Ioverno(Chief Engineer - Vehicle Operations) Tiziano Battistini (Head of Chassis Design) Marco Adurno (Head of Vehicle Performance) Diego Tondi (Head of Aerodynamics)
The SF21 was designed as an evolution of its predecessor the SF1000.
Head of Chassis Enrico Cardile said that the aerodynamics on the SF21 underwent a "radical" revision with two goals in mind given the 2021 rules cut downforce around the car's floor and rear wheels. As a result, that the team's development tokens were spent on the transmission and rear suspension.[3]
The entire front section of the car underwent refinements, with the new front-wing returning to a 2019-style emphasis on the outwash effect. It also featured a new lateral drift, both for the shape of the bulkhead in the outermost edge, and in the foot curb area with a small flow diverter in front of the tyre. There was also a new cape (the flow diverter located behind the nose which helps to manage the flow of air that passes through the lower part of the frame). Additionally, the aerodynamic "horns" placed in the front part of the frame, featured four separate flow diverters.[4]
Development of the car ended after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as Ferrari switched their attention to the car's successor.[5]
Power unit
The Ferrari 065/6 internal combustion engine and its energy storage unit, pictured on display in 2023.
Addressing the power deficit of their 2020 contender, Mattia Binotto stated that "the [new] engine is running well on the dyno" and that its performance had progressed "significantly" compared to 2020. He also explained that 2021 will be a "transition" year in preparation for 2022 and that the SF1000's high aerodynamic drag is a point of focus for development.[6]
In an August 2021 interview, Binotto announced that there would be an additional development to the power unit targeted towards the latter stages of the season.[7]
The change was to the energy store, upgrading from a 400 V to an 800 V system, in line with its rivals by increasing the energy density of the batteries. Binotto told The Race that "The power is always available through the straight line, so you get the benefit from it at the start of the straight line but as well at the end. If we consider how the situation was last year, it is certainly a big step forward. So we still know that there is a gap to the best engine today, but we believe that gap today is not so dramatic."[8]
Ferrari had a much-improved season relative to its disastrous 2020 campaign with the SF1000, with Leclerc achieving 2 pole positions in Monaco and Azerbaijan. The improvement in performance from the SF21 helped Ferrari to secure 3rd in the constructors standings, compared to the disappointing 6th in 2020. Despite this improvement, Ferrari would end the season winless, and for the first time since 1992 and 1993, winless in consecutive seasons. The SF21 came closest to victory at the British Grand Prix, where Leclerc was 2 laps away from taking the win before being overtaken by Lewis Hamilton at Copse corner on lap 50 of 52.
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