Mattia Binotto: “Maintaining the level over an entire season is a challenge”

Ferrari has had an almost perfect start to the 2022 season. With a victory, four podiums and a pole position in two Grands Prix, the Italian team leads the Drivers' Championship with Charles Leclerc before Carlos Sainz, but also the Manufacturers' Championship. Such a start to the year necessarily gives hope to all supporters of the Scuderia, weaned from the individual world title since Kimi Räikkönen in 2007.

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It is the first time since 2018 that the Maranello team finds itself in a position to play a role in the fight for the crown. This year, Sebastian Vettel had won the first two races for the brand in Prancing Horse, but left first place in the general classification to Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) at the end of the season. “Maintaining the level over an entire season is a challenge, not only for us but for all the teams, Mattia Binotto, the main team of Scuderia Ferrari, is nevertheless wary. It is true that our competitors are very good at development; in 2017 and 2018 we lost some ground. » 

The Transalpine, however, judges that Scuderia Ferrari is better equipped in 2022 to win the development race, crucial in a year of change in technical regulations. “We have improved our wind tunnel, our technologies, our processes and our simulations and so today we are much better prepared than in the past to do a good job of development, believes the person concerned. We also have a budget cap which will affect the rate of development – ​​we need to make sure we have the right policy on this as it could be a game changer in the fight for development. »

“It's not just a question of when we'll be ready, but a question of budget cap, making sure we don't spend everything we have in the early races, continued the Ferrari team principal. We don't expect any significant improvements for the next race in Melbourne, but as soon as we can make something, we will. » The third round of the season, the Australian Grand Prix, is scheduled for Sunday April 10. Will the Scuderia take the opportunity to confirm its leadership?

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