Although third place in the 2021 Constructors’ standings is still a current objective for Scuderia Ferrari, which will try to beat McLaren in the fight for a place behind Mercedes and Red Bull, the greatest desire of the Maranello technicians is already projected towards 2022. With the change of regulations, Ferrari wants to return to the center of the Formula 1 world: to open a new cycle, to return to fighting for victories and most importantly for titles after a decade and a half.
Mattia Binotto’s men do not want to get close to the negative record for manufacturers (16 years without a title, from 1983 to 1999; now 13 have passed since 2008) and for drivers (21 years, from 1979 to 2000; the current streak says 14 since 2007).
In a recent interview for Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Mattia Binotto discussed about preparations for next season, anticipating a radical change in terms of engine: “Now is the time to start building and producing the chassis to have it ready for December, as well as the gearbox and suspension. In short, the car concept has already been chosen. We are still working on the external shapes, the aerodynamics, the wings, the bodywork but also on the power unit: in this case the architecture is also fixed but now it is a question of developing the last details of performance and reliability, which will have to be completed by January. And it will be very innovative. We will have a completely different and new engine which for us represents a strong discontinuity of the project, I must say also with courageous choices given that in the coming years the power unit will be frozen. For us it represents the best product we were able to develop. We have changed the mechanical part of the engine, but also the turbo and hybrid combustion of which we are anticipating the evolution in 2021. Compared to the past, it is a significantly revised project on all fronts. We don’t know what the others are doing, but we are working well. As always, the track will tell who did it best.” – the Ferrari boss explained.
It will be a future with Mattia Binotto less and less engineer and more and more team principal. With values and statistics to improve. “I was an engineer, now I’m a kind of conductor. It is not my turn to play the instruments, there are many others who do it much better than me, I have to give them everything they need to be able to operate at their best. Being a good team principal means putting everyone in a position to do well, looking at resources, the human aspect, harmony. Team spirit is something I care a lot about, the right foundations are created for a winning group by acting on the culture of the people, as well as stimulating passion. I believe it is really an identity issue. As for me, I have been forged by three intense years: Concorde agreement, regulatory changes, team defense from attacks on the 2019 engine, the unscheduled replacement of Sebastian Vettel, 2020 results. But in all this I am proud of having remained, also as team principal, one of the many of the Scuderia Ferrari. I am one of them, not different from anyone, I know all my people and mostly by name.” – Mattia Binotto concluded.
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