Mattia Binotto: “We didn’t need Max Verstappen or Adrian Newey at Ferrari back then”. Former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto explains why he never tried to sign Max Verstappen or Adrian Newey.

The current head of Audi’s F1 project had Vettel, Leclerc, and Sainz as drivers in Maranello

The words of the former team principal
The Thursday, May 22 edition of Corriere dello Sport features a lengthy interview (by Italian journalist Fulvio Solms) with Mattia Binotto, former Ferrari team principal and now head of the Audi F1 project. Below are some excerpts regarding the current direct comparison between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, and the fact that as Ferrari team principal he never attempted to bring Adrian Newey or Max Verstappen to the team.

Are you surprised to see Charles Leclerc outperforming Lewis Hamilton?

“No, because Charles is an extremely strong driver, but it’s too early to talk about it. The picture might not be final.”

When you were at Ferrari, did you ever try to sign Max Verstappen or Adrian Newey?

“No, not because I don’t consider them extraordinary, but because we were going through our own phase: at that time, there was no need.”