‘Wrong people start accusing teams like other teams did with Ferrari in 2019’. Ferrari recalls the violent attacks that the team had suffered in 2019.

In 2019, when the Ferrari power unit was under examination, there was a very violent controversy but this time [Mercedes PU] everything was kept under the radar. How do you explain such a different media approach?
Mattia Binotto: “Without getting to the subject of the Mercedes engine, I would prefer to talk about other topics that are well known: the flexible wings, or the management of tyre pressures that required technical directives. The FIA took those measurements because there aere those [other teams] who “misinterpreted” in wrong way the principles of the regulations. And this is no different to what had happened in 2019. Why are there differences in attitude? Maybe back then we were too exposed in the media and we suffered an attack from our competitors, but that is an old story now. I think to get to the tones used in 2019 is still wrong, it’s wrong that people start accusing other teams like other teams did with Ferrari in 2019, however I think it is important to underline that what had happened back then is nothing different from what is happening now and has always happened in Formula 1.”

Did Ferrari write a request of clarification to the FIA about the Mercedes PU [plenum]?
Mattia Binotto: “No, we didn’t even though all the manufacturers always try to understand what their rivals are doing: we analyse the images and look at the GPS data. We had some doubts and we discussed it with Red Bull: I personally spoke to Christian Horner about it, but we didn’t submit any requests for clarification to the FIA.”