'Binotto changes course and takes huge risk with new engine for 2022'

In 2019, out of nowhere Ferrari managed to find something that made the engine run a lot faster than before. Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel took full advantage, but it soon became apparent that Ferrari were outside the rules. The engine was scaled back and as a result, Ferrari fell way back in 2020.

Disappointing Ferrari Engine

The engine is Ferrari's holy grail, however, and that it performed so poorly due to a disappointing engine must have hurt in Maranello. The Italian factory is now reported to be undergoing a complete overhaul. According to Italian Motorsport.it, Ferrari wants to introduce a completely new engine in 2022.

However, according to the Italian medium, this is not without risk. Mattia Binotto is said to have chosen to develop an engine that is much smaller and lighter, to reap aerodynamic benefits. Despite that design, there is also a huge amount of catching up to do with Mercedes on the electrical front.

Binotto takes the gamble

This combination makes it a dangerous choice. Such a rigorous change in engine design needs time to get used to, and can come with reliability issues. One of the management group would have opted to continue with the current line, but Binotto chose a new path. The current route would have come up against too many restrictions.

It is a bold choice by Binotto, who will most likely realise that a wrong assessment here could cost him his job. However, it does show courage for Binotto to make this choice. Normally, Ferrari is more of a wait-and-see competitor, whereas now it wants to take a risk to get ahead of the competition. Time will tell what the outcome will be.