Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto admitted that the extra development work which the Italian side is allowed to do on their 2022 Formula 1 challenger compared to Mercedes was only worth up to a tenth of a second per lap.
The new cars for the following Formula 1 campaign were the first to be designed and built based on the new aerodynamic development rules that impose restrictions for teams according to their previous constructors championship finishing places.
Given the fact that Mercedes won the 2020 constructors championship, the German team was allowed the least development time during 2021, when their challengers for the next championship were being designed. Scuderia Ferrari finished the 2020 Formula 1 season in a disappointing sixth place and as a result had the possibility of conducting more development work than Mercedes, plus rivals Red Bull, McLaren, Aston Martin and Alpine.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hinted that Scuderia Ferrari’s extra development resource could have been worth at least two tenths of a second to them, but Mattia Binotto explains that is not the case:
“We have some more runs at the wind tunnel but if you look at the amount it’s a couple of sessions in the entire year. It’s maybe a tenth per lap if you are very good, I think that’s the amount.” – he added.
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The so-called ‘sliding scale’ aerodynamic rules have the goal of encouraging teams to exploit their development capabilities and resources in a more efficient way, the Ferrari boss explained:
“It’s all how you manage priorities, how good you are and efficient in your activities. If you look at Mercedes, Red Bull, how strong they were last year, no doubt that as a team they are very, very strong and I think the regulations are in place to help the ones that are less efficient.”
During the first pre-season testing session which took place at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Lewis Hamilton suggested that the Italian side may be several months ahead of Mercedes with their car development, given the fact that they were not involved in the fight for race wins and titles in 2021 and could therefore focus entirely on the project for this season:
“It was important for us trying to put focus and priority on 2022.” – Mattia Binotto admitted – “We always said it was a good opportunity. Now we are on track, trying to learn the car. How we benefit from that I think only the next months will tell us and not the next days. I think as I said some weeks ago before [we] see the full potential of those cars let’s give it at least four to five races because there is so much still to learn, to adapt, to address.” – he continued.
Mattia Binotto expects to see “a different balance between teams in terms of relative competitiveness” over the opening races. “So let’s wait and see. I think do we have a benefit from that? Honestly I think we are not the strongest team, we are still the outsider and not the favourites.” – the Ferrari boss concluded.
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