Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto has been under fire from the moment it was announced he would lead the sport’s most famous team, but the Scuderia is enduring one of the worst seasons in its illustrious history under his watch.
Recently Mattia Binotto sat down with Sky Italia reporter Carlo Vanzini for an in-depth interview, of which we highlight his words about the team he leads in turbulent times.
Carlo Vanzini: I read in an interview that as a child you played with Niki Lauda’s toy car. I had that of Jody Scheckter, the last Ferrari driver to win the title before a 21-year drought. It is now 13, how long before we win again?
Mattia Binotto: It will not be 21 years, I am convinced. I experienced that phase of reconstruction first hand, with the victory in the constructors’ championship first and then of the drivers. Now many years have passed, far too many. We have fought for wins and we fought for the title a couple of times.
CV: Even at that time there was a technical revolution underway and a difficult season was experienced. Can it be compared?
MB: There are many winless seasons, from 1990 to 1994 for example. This is a difficult and particular season, both for the difficulties we have and for the particular context of Covid. We have not been able to develop and modify, 2022 is upon us soon and we have to put a lot of energy into it. It’s a season that will be an exception.
CV: There was also an agreement with the Federation, which was never disclosed: have you ever been found illegal?
MB: Obviously not, otherwise we would have been disqualified. The Federation has checked every single element, never finding anything irregular. No opponent has ever protested. We reached an agreement in which regulatory points that were grey areas were clarified. It is normal that the agreement is secret, we certainly cannot reveal our plans.
CV: Why did you feel compelled not to stay in a grey area? This has penalized you …
MB: We were there all season until directives over the winter prevented us from doing certain things to the Power Units. They had implications for us most of all, but also for others.
CV: The car with recent updates seems to work but in the race, it is more difficult: why?
MB: It’s true, we have brought new updates that are working. The hope is to take that small step forward that will at least bring us back to where we were at the beginning of the year.
CV: I want to make you angry… How can you have such a difficult season?
MB: I was already angry in the previous questions… I don’t think banging fists is the right choice. We got the project wrong, looking for the wrong development path. Covid froze us and penalized us,
CV: What Formula 1 is it now, the one you can’t test anymore?
MB: There have always been domains, then we know that if Ferrari dominates it’s more exciting. The time has come to change the regulations, from 2022 we will all start the same. We will all be able to work on it from January 2021, it will be a blank sheet that will reshuffle the cards. We hope to have a Ferrari winning cycle.
CV: Does 2022 once again give someone the opportunity to guess a path that is so superior to the restart?
MB: The regulation as it was written is very restrictive, so there are few opportunities to come up with something out of the ordinary. The premises are correct: try to increase the entertainment, the cars will lose less aerodynamic performance when following the one in front. This direction is correct.
CV: Isn’t modern F1 a prisoner of the engineers?
MB: This has often been discussed but, for example, reducing the sensors also means decreasing the safety of the vehicle. We are working to get the right compromise. We are a good sport, there will be a good change in 2022.
CV: Sportingly speaking, do you hate Toto Wolff?
MB: I wouldn’t talk about hatred, but respect. I don’t want to beat him, I want to bring Ferrari back to victory.
CV: Realistically for 2021, will Ferrari return to fight for the World Championship?
MB: Realistically no, for the World Championship I honestly think not. He must return to fight regularly for the podium, this must be our goal.
CV: It is a Ferrari that never stops, which represents Italian pride…
MB: It is something that stimulates me. A situation like this year could bring out internal tensions but we are all united, from the managers down. It is an example for everyone: despite the difficult situations, sporting and otherwise, it has solid foundations.
CV: Have you ever thought: What made me do this?
MB: It has always been my dream to work for Ferrari, in any role. I feel the responsibility, today I am happy to be part of a team that is like a family and to be able to give my contribution.
CV: What is the most difficult task as Ferrari team principal?
MB: Filtering the things that come from outside the team. Judgments and external pressures are sometimes difficult to manage. The family helps me to manage these pressures, I speak little about work when it is not necessary.
CV: It is very easy to be critical of Ferrari this year …
MB: It is right to express what you feel, it is obvious that the weight of Ferrari is different also on the processes. We have to spend a lot of energy on this as well compared to the others, but we are Ferrari and we know it.
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