Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has talked of how the need to build a solid foundation for the team's future as they start the season on the back of their worst finish in the constructor's championship since 1980.

The fifty-one-year-old who took over control of the Scuderia in 2019 replacing Maurizio Arrivabene has come under severe criticism for his management of the team after a testing 2020 season. Only three podiums, 8th and 13th in the Drivers' Championships for Vettel and Leclerc respectively, plus a lowly P6 in the Constructors' Championship last year leaves him under big pressure. 

They enter 2021 with their youngest driver line up since 1968 with Charles Leclerc being paired with Carlos Sainz Jr who replaces Sebastian Vettel.

Binotto reflected on the 2020 season and the challenges that the team faced when speaking to F1.com.

“Overall, it was a very intense, dense season, difficult for many aspects, where our performance was inadequate.” 

“Finishing sixth in the constructors’ is very bad as since 1980 that had not happened. But it’s a season where I think we invested a lot in the future."

Despite this Binotto has the full backing of Ferrari's chairman John Elkann and it's deputy chairman Piero Ferrari, however, Binotto is conscious that he doesn't have an indefinate amount of time to get the Scuderia back to the top.

"There are no changes in our plans, no changes in what is our future,". "I know that my time is not infinite, certainly. I am pretty aware of the fact that. As a team we need to do well and myself as well as principal to do well in the next seasons.”

“We are trying to create the solid foundations which are required to become very competitive and hopefully to open a new cycle for the future.”

Ferrari has yet to reveal a launch date for the SF21.