Sainz takes his first steps at Ferrari

We left him in orange on Sunday evening in Abu Dhabi at the end of another very solid season with McLaren ; we found him with a little Ferrari polo shirt on his shoulders near Maranello (Italy).

Carlos Sainz took his first steps as a Scuderia starter last Friday. On the menu for the day: tour of the facilities, lunch with his main team Mattia Binotto and his new teammate Charles Leclerc, and making contact with the Italian team, in particular its new engineers.

During a press conference organized on Friday noon, Binotto clarified that the Spaniard will work with Riccardo Adami, who previously supported Sebastian Vettel.

Sainz will make his debut behind the wheel of a Ferrari during the month of January at the private Fiorano track with a car of 2018. The Madrilenian has already had a seat molded for this test run.

Binotto also revealed the name of the Prancing Horse's next creation: SF21. “It’s a very simple name because we think that next year is a transition to the 2022 project”, explained the head of Gestione Sportiva.

With only 3 days of winter testing planned in 2021, the Scuderia plans to rely heavily on its simulator (a new one is under construction for mid-2021) to allow Sainz to familiarize himself with his new environment, the procedures at the wheel, or the management of the Ferrari propeller.

“We know that Carlos is a fast driver, replied Binotto when asked about Ferrari's expectations of its new recruit.

He’s coming off a very good season in 2020 and improved in qualifying, an area that didn’t seem like one of his strong points. And he's still good at racing.

I expect him to make a vital contribution to the team in the run-up to the Constructors' Championship, which is vital for us.

He will also share his experience with different teams, which allowed him to try several methodologies. Will he have the right to come and tickle Leclerc?

• No designated leader on the team

Sainz's contract with Ferrari is only for two seasons initially, when the Monegasque is linked to the Scuderia until 2024 since last winter. Should we conclude that Leclerc is the designated leader at Maranello?

“Nothing in Charles' contract indicates he is the leader of the team, swept Binotto. Both will have the right to fight on the track. Obviously, they should not hang on but they will have equal chances at the start of the season.

Our priority is to optimize the overall result of the team. In certain races, they will therefore have to help the team or accept decisions made in the interest of the team.

Later in the season, if a driver has taken a clear advantage and is able to achieve this or that unattainable objective for his teammate, there will be an open discussion between the two and we will see how to proceed, always within interest in the team”.

Sainz, declared himself “100% ready and motivated for this challenge”  during his first appearance in red, he who left the United Kingdom on Friday morning.

“It’s all new, all fresh, and you can imagine it’s a pretty special feeling, he said. It's a day I won't forget. Obviously the circumstances are a bit special. We would have liked it to be a little more normal.

“I had my first meetings, and did my first tour of the factory. In the coming days, I will recharge the batteries as quickly as possible but you can be sure that I will be here at the beginning of January to help the team progress.

After suffering the worst campaign in its history since 1980, Ferrari, 6th in the latest Manufacturers' ranking, is asking for just that.