Binotto on what he learned by working with Schumacher and why Vettel’s way of working reminds him of Michael. Mattia Binotto interview for Autobild.

Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto interview for Autobild:

Why is Ferrari not at the top?
Mattia Binotto: “Because last year in the second half of the season we lost ground. We are still recovering from that. We are a team under construction. Many of our people have not been in their positions for long [compared to Mercedes]. Only when you have gathered the appropriate experience you can reach your peak performance. One thing is certain: We are on the right track. It’s true Ferrari hasn’t won yet. But it’s also because we missed some of our opportunities. From the numbers, Mercedes is dominant. But the gap is actually smaller. Also recently we reduced the gap a bit.”

How does Vettel cope with the current situation?
Mattia Binotto: “Despite all the setbacks, he always stays concentrated and focused. He knows he can help the team the most when he brings his best possible performance. It’s certainly not easy for him, no question. He has this dream to become world champion with Ferrari and we support him to make his dream come true.”

What did you think about Vettel’s post-race emotions (anger) after the Canadian GP?
Mattia Binotto: “He did the right thing for me. He fought like a lion on track and was totally disappointed after the race. He showed his true feelings, there is nothing wrong with that. Hamilton had the slightly faster car so it wasn’t an easy task for Seb to stay ahead.”

How do you talk to Sebastian after a disappointing race?
Mattia Binotto: “We’ll quickly look ahead. The future is always more important than the past. It is important that he [Vettel] feels that we trust him and build on him.”

So will Vettel still be world champion with Ferrari?
Mattia Binotto: “That is our goal.”

You worked with Michael Schumacher in the past. What did you learn from him?
Mattia Binotto: “To never give up. And how important hard work is. Even in the years when Ferrari won the championship before the end of the season, Michael did not want to see a standstill.”

Does Vettel’s way of working remind you of Michael Schumacher?
Mattia Binotto: “Yes, both are leaders. Both are champions. Both extremely hard workers.”