Ferrari boss calls for more “patience” amid 2019 struggles and outlines Sebastian Vettel’s role in rebuilding the team. Mattia Binotto has called for more “patience”.

Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto has called for more “patience” as he admits the Maranello team’s 2019 car is not yet a match for rivals Mercedes. Heading into Silverstone, the Italian side’s boss admitted that the British Grand Prix layout will not suit the Ferrari car “particularly well”.

But just days ago, Mattia Binotto’s counterpart at Mercedes, Toto Wolff, said Ferrari should have won two or three grands prix already this year: “Ferrari has not won yet, that’s right,” Binotto told Auto Bild. “But also because we missed some opportunities. From the numbers, Mercedes is better at the moment. But the gap is actually smaller.” – he said.

The Italian said Ferrari is not yet at Mercedes’ level because the team “lost ground” in the second half of last season: “We still have to recover from that. But we are a young team in development. Only when you have gathered appropriate experience can you perform at the peak. But one thing is certain: we have the right people in the right positions.” – he explained.

And one of those people, Mattia Binotto insists, is German driver Sebastian Vettel. It follows recent speculation that the four-time Formula One world champion could either return to Red Bull or quit F1 altogether. He said Sebastian Vettel is one of those who needs “patience”: “It’s definitely not easy for him, but he understands his role in rebuilding the team. He is very important to me. He knows that nobody wins alone, you only do it all together. The future is always more important than the past, so it’s important that he feels that we trust him. And we do.” – Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto concluded.