For Binotto, bad strategy is the consequence of a lack of pace from Ferrari

As is often the case after the Grands Prix at the moment, the debriefings promise to be hectic within the Team. In Hungary, with the 2nd and 3rd position of Carlos Sainz et Charles Leclerc on the grid, Ferrari had the opportunity to return to the championship. With the championship leader, Max Verstappen who had missed his qualifications, the opportunity was great for Mattia Binotto's men. Too beautiful certainly. As the team has known to do since the start of the season, it sabotaged itself with a failed pit strategy. While Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc had to regain points from Max Verstappen, it was ultimately the Dutchman who consolidated his lead by winning the Hungarian Grand Prix. 

With his role as team principal, Mattia Binotto is inevitably at the center of criticism after the race. But the Italian was keen to highlight the failings of the F1-75 in Hungary more than the strategy. “ To begin with, we are certainly frustrated because we were hoping for a better result. More than that, we're frustrated because the car wasn't performing the way we expected, so today, yes we could start discussing strategy, but I think strategy is a consequence of the car not was not working well and therefore the tires are not working as they should “, says Mattia Binotto.

An incomprehensible passage for hard tires

From the start of the race, the Scuderia made a different choice in terms of tires. Mercedes went on the soft tires while among the Reds, we trusted the mediums. But where the Scuderia was intrigued was when it decided with 30 laps to go to call Charles Leclerc into the pits to put on hard tires. Yet, Alpine had demonstrated that it was complicated to bring them to temperature. But Ferrari did as it pleased. 

« We stopped for the hard tires because with 30 laps to go, we wanted to protect ourselves from Max and we knew that with the hard tires we would have had problems with warming up for a few laps, that would be corrected later , but there was still a long relay. They could have come back, but it didn't work. I think we have to once again look at why the car didn't perform as we hoped today », Explains the Italian leader. 

To support his point, Mattia Binotto uses the example of Carlos Sainz's race. “ He had the same strategy as Lewis who finished second, but we finished behind, so overall I think we didn't have the speed today and I think that's where we need to focus to understand why. Like I said, looking at the whole season so far, this is the first time it hasn't really worked and there should be a good reason for it », Tempers the leader of the Scuderia.

The championship is not yet over for Mattia Binotto

If it is true that Ferrari has always managed to have pace this season, this new error is very costly for the championship. Especially since the Hungaroring was a track that was supposed to be successful for the F1-75. “ The circuit suits Ferrari, specifies Mattia Binotto. But we also know that it was very close, very close, and that means maybe a tenth on one side or a tenth on the other, but overall today the speed and pace was not not good. We really have to look at the data, I don't think there's much we can do other than find the reason and move forward from that. »

So did this umpteenth error by the Scuderia condemn them to the championship? “ I don't know if the championship is over, they had a fantastic race today, starting from 10th place to finish in 1st place, testifies the Italian about the race Red Bull. Obviously, it was well done on their part. There is still a long way to go, we have to focus on ourselves, try to improve because there are definitely weaknesses that need to be improved and we will see step by step, race by race as we do. we did in this first half of the season. There is also the constructor's championship where I think it is not at all over and there are many things to come », concludes Mattia Binotto. If Ferrari still wants to win the championship, the Italian team will have to stop offering points to Red Bull and Max Verstappen every weekend. 

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