It is no exaggeration that Mattia Binotto, who runs the Ferrari Formula One team, carries the expectations of his home country. At least at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix he does.
“The weight of a nation is on his shoulders,” said his longtime friend Guenther Steiner, the team principal of the Haas F1 Team. “But he knows what he’s doing, and he knows what he needs to do.”
Italy is passionate about its team, and thousands of fans make the pilgrimage to Monza for the race, packing the stands in Ferrari red and unfurling a giant flag across the grandstand. They would love to see the team return to its glory days when it won six consecutive constructors’ championships from 1999 to 2004 and five successive drivers’ titles with Michael Schumacher from 2000 to 2004.
And they would love to see the team win there, which it has not done since Fernando Alonso won in 2010.
Mattia Binotto started at Ferrari in 1995 and played his part in the team’s heyday, describing it “a luxury to be part of that period,” working as a test engine engineer and eventually becoming chief operating officer, power unit; and chief technical officer.
He became team principal in January, a job he said he never wanted, but because of his previous roles, “I suppose there was no choice.
“I felt the time was right for it, but it was not an easy decision because of the timing,” he said in an interview. Ideally, such a decision should have been taken a lot earlier so you can set up the entire season, but we had no opportunity as a team to do it differently, better or earlier.”
Mattia Binotto knows frustrations are growing with the team’s lack of success. Ferrari has not won a constructors’ title for 11 years, and it is 12 since a driver was champion.
“I understand and feel the responsibility,” he said. “I know that leading Ferrari carries with it a high responsibility, but the pressure is more from the outside rather than internal.”
Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, to Italian parents, Binotto moved to Italy in 1994 and earned a master’s degree in motor vehicle engineering at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. He then joined Ferrari, the only company he has worked for since.
“I thought then, and I still think now, I can do well in the job,” he said. “Maybe it seems arrogant, but the reason I took it is that I know the team very well, I know Ferrari well, I know the people inside, and if there is anything I enjoy in my role it’s managing people. I was already managing technical people, but now it’s much wider, and suddenly I’m managing the drivers, something which I’m enjoying, and I feel altogether we can do a good job.”
In Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, Binotto has two drivers at opposite ends of their careers, with the former a four-time champion who has not won a title since 2013, and the latter a rising star who won his first race in Belgium last weekend.
Like the fans, Vettel’s own frustrations are growing: “Seb is very analytical,” Binotto said. “If he is sometimes not fast enough, compared to what he believes he should be, then he feels there should be a reason behind it. So what is important is supporting him in the analysis, understanding what are his requirements with the car setup, car balance, how the car should be improved to ensure he feels comfortable and faster.”
Sebastian Vettel’s contract with the team expires at the end of 2020. Asked if he was confident of keeping Vettel on the team, Binotto said: “Yes. He is a very smart guy, and he is a very good driver.”
Mattia Binotto is composed and assured when he speaks. It is an authoritative nature admired by Vettel.
“One thing we have achieved so far as a team, and Mattia is our team principal, our leader, is to remain calm,” Vettel said, noting that it was not the first half of the season the team was looking for. Yet the focus is there within the entire team,” Vettel said. “Everyone is remaining calm, and are determined to make progress as soon as we can. It’s not going to click or happen overnight but we have a very good understanding of where the car is, and where we believe it needs to go, and the next months will confirm whether we are picking the right direction.”
Vettel feels that Binotto’s influence is having an effect.
“He is doing really well,” Vettel said, “keeping everything together, keeping the team calm, and at the same time reminding everyone where we want to go, where we need to go and leading the team. From where we are, for sure, we need to improve. We need to get stronger as a team, but he is at least giving us the right leadership.”
Mattia Binotto sees parallels to when he first joined the team and the many years without a title. He said it could be awhile before the current drought ended and not to be judged after just a few months in charge.
“People should judge me for what I’ve done in 25 years,” he said. “I’m not a rookie in F1. There is nothing magic in F1. We are investing in the medium long term. If there is any judgment it should be in two or three years’ time because that gives me the time I need to shape the team and the organization.” He did not provide specifics about his plans.
He said he had the backing of John Elkann, chairman of Ferrari, and Louis Camilleri, its chief executive.
“They know the situation, and they are supportive,” Binotto said. “I feel their full trust, and they have given me the confidence to move forward with what we are doing. We’ve good people, good drivers, and at the moment we have the right level of calmness and passion. I’m pretty sure these are all the ingredients to do well but, as I’ve said, it may take some time.”
