Scuderia Ferrari always triggers very strong emotions for the fans. It is the red national team and the expectations for the Maranello team are always very high, especially when, after two years of deep crisis, the Scuderia has given clear signs of recovery.
The resounding start to the 2022 Formula 1 season gave the illusion that the Prancing Horse brand could fight for the the Drivers and the Constructors world championships. The F1-75 was designed very good, based on an aerodynamic concept that, together with that of the Red Bull RB18, is leading the way for the new generation the Formula 1 challengers. And the driver duo is considered one of the most competitive on the grid, so there were and are all the conditions to aim high, very high with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Mattia Binotto, Ferrari team principal, was interviewed at the Sport Festival admirably curated by the Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. The Italian engineer is the main figure from the Ferrari Racing Department and the one who always defends his men, becoming the “regulator” of a system that is subjected to enormous pressures, with big ups and downs that can lead to devaluations.
His always calm, monotonous tone of voice is a stabilizer of a system in constant turmoil. Ahead of the Singapore GP, it can be said that Ferrari’s overall balance is poor: the F1-75 deserved more than what it achieved on the track, but the 2022 world championship showed were the Maranello team needs to improve to be able to start a cycle of successes: avoiding the repeated errors in strategies, the engine failures caused by the lack of reliability and some drivers’ issues that have affected the Italian side’s chances of fighting for the world championship.
Mattia Binotto is a demanding manager, but defends his drivers. To those who asked him what he would expect more from Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, he replied: “More victories. I say it and repeat it: we have the best driver line-up in F1. They get along very well with each other and they work together to help the team improve. When we talk on Fridays and Saturdays after the sessions about what one or the other feels, there is an open, sincere discussion. They both know that improving our car and our team means improving to beat our rivals.”
Mattia Binotto is keen to emphasize how big the challenge awaits Ferrari: “It is no longer enough to do your homework well, to win you have to keep progressing and improving: and to do that we have to give 120% if not 130%. We have been coming after very difficult seasons, from sixth place in 2021 in the Constructors: There have been years which marked us because we have been under pressure and criticism. And in a way they formed us. We promised that we would be competitive again and we have kept our promise, but what I mean is that between having a high-performance car and drivers and the ability to capitalize on every chance and win each weekend, there is still a step to be taken. “
Mattia recalled the moment when he joined Ferrari in 1995 and did not forget Michael Schumacher’s first victory for the Maranello team in Spain 1996: “It was also my first victory and when I heard the anthem I realized what it means to be Ferrari, but then we started winning the championships in 1999 and 2000 ”.
Today’s wait is long and F1 has changed a lot: “Formula 1 very different now, the main teams have more than doubled their staff. In the race there are real giants in terms of means and resources. But for this it will be even better when we beat them! ”.
But what is missing to get to the top? “That winning mentality that we had in the Michael Schumacher era, to push you to do better after each victory.”
And a few mistakes too many … “In Montmelò and Baku we had trouble when we were in the lead …”.
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