Ferrari: "Nothing to complain about" with 2021 aero F1 changes
Ferrari Formula 1 boss Mattia Binotto says there's "nothing to complain about" regarding the late changes to the 2021 aero rules that the FIA plans to impose on safety grounds

Teams were told in a letter issued during the build-up to the Spanish Grand Prix that there will be further cuts to downforce levels for 2021 in an attempt to reduce loadings to help Pirelli to run the same tyre specifications for a third consecutive season.
The move is a direct result of the tyre issues witnessed at Silverstone, amid concerns that Pirelli's default response of raising tyre pressures creates compromises such as overheating.
Changes to the 2021 floor regulations, which teams say will have a significant impact on the airflow over their cars, were already agreed earlier this year.
No details have been agreed regarding the latest adjustments to the rules and it could be weeks before details are confirmed - which will be much later in the design process than teams usually anticipate and plan for with any new rules.
However, Binotto said that teams have to accept the safety justification for the unusual timing.
"First, we simply need to remember that for 2021 the set of aero regulations have already been modified under the World Council for a reduction on aero performance because of the concern for the tyres," he said when asked by Autosport.
"Initially we should have had new 18-inch tyres in 2021 which has now been postponed to 2022, so the tyres we have had in the past have been kept identical for 2021 as well. No doubt that by increasing the aero performance the severity of the usage of the tyres will be higher.

"I think that Silverstone, in that respect, has been a good example. I think there is nothing wrong in what happened to the tyres themselves, but in the end it was the simple consequence of cars being faster and faster throughout the lap, [and] through the circuit.
"So I understand that Pirelli is now concerned about that, I understand the FIA is concerned for safety matters and I think it is simply a belief that the changes already approved for 2021 will not be sufficient.
"In that case, we will do further changes on the aero for safety reasons, there is nothing we can somehow complain about.
"I think what the changes will be, we are not aware of at the moment. Certainly it will impact all the cars [and] our R&D. But I'm pretty aware as well that it's necessary for the safety, and safety always comes first."
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff agreed that the teams have to be united as the changes have a safety focus.
"We need to all be together in this," he said. "And the cars, like Mattia said, have become faster than everybody expected, and in that respect we can't expect Pirelli to catch up with new tyres and so, like Mattia said, absolutely we need to work together."

Previous article
Haas F1 drivers welcome FIA review of radio restrictions
Next article
F1 2010's lost teams: Prodrive

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Teams | Ferrari |
Author | Adam Cooper |
Ferrari: "Nothing to complain about" with 2021 aero F1 changes
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The driver problems facing Mercedes in 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The big F1 questions of 2021
After an unprecedented season last year, there are plenty of questions and storylines for the upcoming Formula 1 campaign. Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok gives his verdict
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz Jr in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new team-mate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
The mantra Ocon must follow to challenge Alonso
OPINION: It's been an uneasy ride for Esteban Ocon since his F1 comeback - and fresh challenges lie in wait as he's joined by double world champion Fernando Alonso in the newly rebranded Alpine team. STUART CODLING sets out a roadmap to success
How McLaren’s new investors have already made an impact
OPINION: The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says STUART CODLING