Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto was interviewed by Daniele Sparisci for corriere.it, ahead of the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix which takes place this weekend at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari:
You want to win in Imola. Maybe you also plan to take the sprint race win?
Mattia Binotto: “The car has shown that it can challenge for victory in all races. We arrive with the ambition to fight for the top step of the podium.”
Do you sometimes manage to take your thoughts off and relax?
Mattia Binotto: “By isolating myself. At home, in the garden. Walking through the woods, cycling in the Apennines. But I can’t really disconnect.”
Do you believe in God, are you religious?
Mattia Binotto: “Yes, when I can I go to Mass.”
If you hadn’t become team principal in F1, what would you have liked to do?
Mattia Binotto: “A carpenter.”
Charles Leclerc dominated in Australia like he was in Michael’s Ferrari. Was it really like that?
Mattia Binotto: “At times I felt like I was reliving those good times. It’s been a long time since we won with such a performance advantage.”
What do you take away from those years?
Mattia Binotto: “The will to always improve. We are only at the beginning of the road. And the difficult part is yet to come.”
How much did the new simulator, the updated technologies help?
Mattia Binotto: “A lot. We now have predictive tools capable of quickly identifying a problem and its cause. These tools will also be fundamental for development!”
When did you realize that this car (F1-75) is capable of winning?
Mattia Binotto: “From the data it was obvious. After the first day of testing in Barcelona, I had the confirmation. Sometimes just one “run” is enough. If the driver smiles, you understand that the car was born well. They taught me that, and it’s true.”
Carlos is behind in the standings. Is it already time for internal hierarchies?
Mattia Binotto: “No, they both have the right to express themselves at their best. At this stage there is no need for team orders. And without the mistake in Melbourne, Carlos would be second. And if Carlos wins, he takes points away from Verstappen, the real rival.”
Where are Charles Leclerc’s strengths?
Mattia Binotto: “Charles has broad shoulders, he occupies the whole track. If he is in front, it’s difficult to overtake him. He is a magician in close battles.”
What are Carlos Sainz‘s strengths?
Mattia Binotto: “Carlos studies. He is a fast driver who likes to analyse data. He knows how to adapt and grow, he needs more time. But then he is there too.”
Red Bull or Mercedes, who do you fear more?
Mattia Binotto: “Red Bull, they have a superior development capacity.”
Are Mercedes and Red Bull paying for the efforts of the last championship fight and you have taken advantage of it?
Mattia Binotto: “I don’t see it like that at all. They were motivated, for us it was all uphill. Working on the future when you get slapped every weekend was not easy. You have to put your face to it and have a management that accepts the situation. If the opponents are behind, there are other reasons, it has nothing to do with distraction.”
But how did you see the light after such difficult years as 2020?
Mattia Binotto: “I knew what we had in Maranello, we had the skills to be competitive. We had already proved that in 2017 and 2018 and we have grown since then. But I also knew that we would have to go through two seasons of sacrifices before taking the opportunity of redemption with the new rules.
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Was there a moment when you thought about giving up?
Mattia Binotto: “Never. I’m too stubborn. And I am also aware that I am not the only one responsible for successes or failures. We are a team and I feel I am one of many elements. We have all reacted together, we have always remained united. And that has given me the push.”
If you only win the Drivers’ title, wouldn’t that make you happy?
Mattia Binotto: “We couldn’t be, the Constructors’ championship represents the solidity of a team. To understand: a driver title would be extraordinary, but I think our goal goes further.”
Does defeat really help?
Mattia Binotto: “It takes steps backward to move forward. It teaches us not to disunite and to invest in technologies, people, “culture”: identify the weak points and fix them. We have done it in the last 2-3 years, it has been a long journey.”
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