Scuderia Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has played down the Maranello team’s positive start to the pre-season testing sessions at the Circuit de Catalunya, explaining that the Italian side should not be seen as “favourites”, but rather as “outsiders”.
Formula 1’s most successful team impressed in the first two days of testing in Barcelona, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz combining to give Ferrari the highest lap count yesterday – 153 – and the second and third fastest times respectively (despite the fact that lap times are less important in this stage of the year).
Carlos Sainz continued that efficient running with 71 laps this session, while Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap in the afternoon session in Barcelona. While it is very difficult to predict a pecking order for the new generation of Formula 1 challengers, rumors from paddock have listed the F1-75 as one of the most impressive to watch out so far.
However, Mattia Binotto does not want to get carried away or create false expectations: “I think it’s very early days,” he said when speaking in the lunchtime press conference in Barcelona. “It’s always great to have good consistency when running because it’s time to learn these new cars. When you are doing a lot of laps, you are certainly collecting data. So far I’m pleased by the fact that yesterday we did many laps, and this morning too, which is important. Regarding the pace, it’s very early to judge. What I can see is that we are all very close, which was one of the objectives of the new regulations.” – he explained.
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Scuderia Ferrari decided to focus their attention and resources on the 2022 project from the early stages of the previous season, well aware of the fact that the new rules and regulations would be a good chance for them to get back on top:
“Overall, as Ferrari it was important for us to put focus and priority on 2022,” he added. “We always said it was an opportunity. Now we are on track, we are trying to learn the car. How we benefit from that, I think only the next months – not the next days – will tell us. To see the full potential of the cars will take at least four to five races as there is still so much to learn, to adapt, to address. Let’s wait and see. Honestly, we’re not the strongest team. We are still the outsider and not the favourites.” – the Ferrari boss concluded.
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