The first race of the 2022 Formula 1 season could not have started in a better way for the Ferrari team, as the Italians won a new double after more than three years of waiting.
Those from Maranello had not been at the top of the podium since the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix, with Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, however, at the inaugural event of the new era of the Great Circus, those in red climbed to the top with the same Monegasque, who got the third victory of his career, and Carlos Sainz Jr, in second place.
As the two F1-75s crossed the finish line, everyone in the garage jumped for joy and went straight to the wall to congratulate the drivers. One of those who was in that privileged place was the team’s boss, Mattia Binotto , who ended up very satisfied with the result.
Ferrari was able to add this double thanks to the abandonment in the final laps of Max Verstappen, who gave second place to Sainz due to problems with his Honda engine, and the head of the race reviewed what the appointment in Sakhir was.
“Charles [Leclerc] had an easier time managing the tyres, he felt comfortable with them and that’s why he stayed there to consolidate the position,” said the Italian manager.
“I expected Red Bull to be even stronger, and they have been, but they had problems during the race with the braking system. They were very quick, they were keeping up with Charles, so that’s what worries us the most.” Binotto continued.
“In general, it was important to ride consistently and to bring the car back home,” explained the Ferrari boss, who acknowledges that they have had a long way to go to achieve this success at the start of 2022.
“The pressure is very, very strong, but we must focus on what we are doing and forget about everything so as not to get stressed,” he said. “We have come here to be focused on our performance, to have a clean race and for the drivers to do the job.”
However, Binotto knows that the rest of the grid will make things difficult for him in a short period of time: “It is true that the rivals are doing their homework and that they will be there very soon, it will be a nice fight in Formula 1, so We’ll see. We’ll do our best.”
“The team has stayed together and it’s great to see that, now we have to push to be in the lead and try to do it for the tifosi,” the Maranello boss concluded with a wide smile on his face.
