Mattia Binotto became Ferrari’s team principal three years ago, but his time with the Maranello team started a long time ago. He joined the Italian side back in 1995 by working at the engine department and was there for Scuderia Ferrari’s rise back to the top of the series, with Michael Schumacher leading the team on the track in the glorious years from two decades ago. Together, between 1999 and 2004, Michal Schumacher secured five Drivers’ Championships while Scuderia Ferrari won the Constructors’ title for six consecutive years.
After several difficult seasons for Ferrari in recent years, Mattia Binotto has led the team back to the top of Formula 1 and admitted that he uses the lessons he learned from Michael Schumacher to lead the Maranello team.
“It was a fantastic time. I’m proud to have been part of it,” Mattia Binotto in a recent interview for Germany’s biggest newspaper, Bild – “And not only that, I learned a lot from him [Schumacher]. I picked up this mentality and ability to be a leader from him. I will never forget that.”
Mattia Binotto’s time in charge of Ferrari has been rather difficult, with the 2019 power unit controversy which led to the difficult 2020 Formula 1 championship. But the Maranello team continued to kept faith in him as Ferrari worked hard to recover in 2022, by focusing on the new rules and regulations. And the work carried out by the Italian side has paid off: Charles Leclerc scored two victories in the first three races of the 2022 Formula One season, in Bahrain and Australia and is currently leading the Drivers’ Championship ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. At the same time, Scuderia Ferrari comfortably sit atop the Constructors’ Championship, also thanks to Carlos Sainz’s solid contribution.
The season is still long, but for now things look great for Ferrari, who will now focus on development updates to keep its advantage over Red Bull and Mercedes. Mattia Binotto explained though that this resurgence was not something that happened just over the pre-2022 winter break.
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“A big project like this takes years. It’s been a long journey and it’s still going on. There is still a lot to do and improve. We want to bring back that Ferrari culture in the team. That’s what makes us. We are the only ones who have always been in Formula 1 and the most successful team in history. That’s what we want to stand for. That is what we understand by our motto ‘Essere Ferrari’.”
Looking back at Scuderia Ferrari’s one-two finish in the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, which marked a perfect start of the season, Mattia Binotto added: “It gives you an extra boost of motivation. Everyone at Ferrari was waiting for the new season and we put a lot of work and passion into it. We knew we had a good car, but we didn’t realise how good it was until after the race. It was a big relief for all of us.”
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