Formula 1: Ferrari better prepared to challenge for Title: Ferrari’s team principal Mattia Binotto feels that the team is much more prepared and are in a much better place than in 2018 to fight for the title this year. After going through several tough seasons, Ferrari have now made its way back to the top after a comprehensive start to the 2022 Formula 1 season. Follow Formula 1 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Mattia Binotto said, “I think that keeping up the level of development through a season is always a challenge not only for us but for all the teams. But it’s true that our competitors are very strong in that. They proved to be very strong. While as Ferrari, with the last two opportunities we had in ’17 and ’18, we lost a bit of ground for development.”
Formula 1: Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto is confident, as Team is determined to FIGHT for F1 title, unlike 2018
“I think for car design, we have improved our tools, which are wind tunnel methodologies, processes, and the simulator. And I think as of today, we are much better prepared compared to the past to do the proper job as well in development.”
Ferrari had a 1-2 finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc won the race. He was followed by his teammate Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix saw Ferrari again on the podium with a 2-3 finish. Charles Leclerc again outpaced his teammate Carlos Sainz.
Charles Leclerc wins the Bahrain Grand Prix! 🇧🇭
The first race of the season did not disappoint 😱
📺 Sky Sports F1
📲 https://t.co/me3osUi2Io
#️⃣ #BahrainGP 🇧🇭— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) March 20, 2022
Ferrari has produced the team’s best car since 2018’s SF71H which was driven by Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen. Sebastian Vettel had won five races in the first half of 2018 while taking on Lewis Hamilton for the title. But, after the summer break, Ferrari saw its downfall. It was Mercedes who won the races and in the process, they out-developed their Italian rivals.
Formula 1: Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto is confident, as Team is determined to FIGHT for F1 title, unlike 2018
However, it was Lewis Hamilton who sealed the deal with the Drivers title with two races still left. Meanwhile, Mercedes also won the Constructors Championship for the fifth time on the trot.
The story was the same for Ferrari in 2017 as Sebastian Vettel had led the first twelve races. He again fell behind after the summer break to his rival Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton again secured the Drivers title and Mercedes were the Constructors champions for the fourth time in a row.
But, Binotto feels that the team is in a better place right now than they were four years ago. Ferrari has all the right tools to keep up with its development rate throughout the season.
Formula 1: Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto is confident, as Team is determined to FIGHT for F1 title, unlike 2018
With the new sets of regulations, the F1 have also announced a budget cap starting this season. Binotto admits that Ferrari can’t have any more developments as they please. Thus, they will need to take a more focused approach in choosing the right upgrades which will see them right to the end of this year’s campaign.
Binotto added, “Compared to that time, today we’ve got as well a budget cap which will influence the rate of development. I think that is a key point, a key element. My concern is that we need to make sure that we’ve got the right policing on that. Because it can be a game-changer in the fight for developments.”
Binotto feels there is still time for Ferrari to bring their updates to their F1-75 challenger. He further added, “I think it’s not only a matter of when we’ll be ready. But the matter as I said before of budget caps, to try to make sure that we’re not spending all that we got in the first races.”
“So, we are not expecting significant developments for the next race in Melbourne. But as soon as we can bring something, we will do it anyhow.”
Round three of the 2022 Formula 1 season takes place in Australia. The Australian Grand Prix will start on 8th April and the race is scheduled for 10th April.
Formula 1: Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto is confident, as Team is determined to FIGHT for F1 title, unlike 2018
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