Scuderia Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has set an ambitious goal of taking a one-two finish in the next round of the 2022 Formula 1 season, the Hungarian Grand Prix, which takes place at the Hungaroring circuit in Budapest this weekend.
The Maranello team looked set to continue the winning streak last time out in France, but eventually in proved a dismal Sunday, as Charles Leclerc crashed out while leading the race and Carlos Sainz had to settle for fifth place after the started the French Grand Prix from 19th due to a grid penalty for using new power unit components.
To make things even worse, Charles Leclerc’s title rival Max Verstappen was there to once again pick up the pieces and gain a solid 63-point lead over the Monegasque in the 2022 Drivers’ Championship, ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, which is the final race until the summer break.
Ferrari had won at Silvertsone and Red Bull Ring before the French Grand Prix weekend and was hoping to further reduce the gap at the Paul Ricard circuit, but after the disappointing result, the Ferrari boss still wanted to point out the F1-75 pace and tyre management during the three days of on-track action.
“It has been a good weekend in terms of pace, and the car has proved to be very competitive. I think Carlos [Sainz]’s race as well showed it,” Mattia Binotto said in an interview for the media – “Charles got the pole. He was leading the race. I think we had an edge on the Red Bull in terms of tyre degradation by lap 15, and then Max had to stop. We could have extended the stint and we were extending the stint, looking at the time where Max stopped when he was starting suffering from tyre degradation. Charles was gaining two or three tenths per lap on him, proving once again that our car is great and gentle with tyre management.” – he added.
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Despite the fact that the French Grand Prix proved another opportunity lost for Ferrari, which adds to those from Spain, Monaco and Baku, Mattia Binotto added a bullish note over the competitiveness of the F1-75 package, explaining that the Maranello team now has to target a 1-2 finish this weekend at the Hungaroring circuit: “I think we come out from here, Le Castellet, with full confidence in our package, in our drivers’ capacity and our speed. Lucky enough now, in a week’s time, we’ve got Hungary. It’s important for us to turn the page, to look forward. Hungary will be again very hot there and it will be again about tyre management, tyre degradation and tyre overheating, very similar to Le Castellet. So I will say there is plenty of reason why we need to smile, and be positive, because our objective going in to Hungary should be not for a winning, but a 1-2.” – the Ferrari boss concluded.
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