After two years without a victory, Ferrari started this season as one of the main contenders for the championship, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz notching up multiple victories in the first half of 2022.
The new regulations were a great opportunity for all the teams in the highest category of motorsport, and Ferrari were aware of them, so they went to great lengths to ensure that their F1-75 was as competitive as possible from the start.
However, some suggested the Italians had made more progress than their rivals over the winter because they started work on the 2022 regulations earlier than their rivals, as both Mercedes and Red Bull were locked in a title fight last year.
Instead, team principal Mattia Binotto assures that Ferrari ‘s progress is because they have done a better job, as they had no advantage compared to the rest of the teams, as they were also struggling with McLaren on last year.
Asked whether he felt it was unfair that some were saying that Ferrari ‘s good form was due to its fitness advantage, the Maranello boss told Motorsport.com: “I don’t think it’s unfair, I think it’s a mistake”.
“The reason is that, first, we all started at the same time to develop the 2022 car. That was in January 2021, when we could finally start doing simulations and working in the wind tunnels with the new cars. So we couldn’t do anything.”
“So it’s not like we started development early compared to other teams. We all started at the same time.”
“Then it is already a question of how many resources and what priority you gave to the project. Maybe the two cars that were fighting for the championship in 2021 had to put more developments in that year, but I think we did too, because we were fighting. with McLaren.
“I think that finishing fourth was not our objective. We had to fight with them until the end of the world championship and that is why we developed our cars until the end of 2021 as well.
Binotto believes the performance gap between Ferrari and McLaren this year, after battling on equal terms last season, is the best indicator of the good work his team has done.
“We are not as focused on development in 2021 as Mercedes and Red Bull , that is, but I don’t think we have done anything very different from the other teams on the grid, and they are behind,” said the Swiss manager.
“We were fighting with McLaren and they with us. At that time we had exactly the same resources and the same options.
“Perhaps, like us, they gave priority to 2022, but the final result has been different. And also, on the other hand, it is because I think that in 2020 and 2021 we were not performing as this team can really.”
Ferrari started the season at the top of the championship, but its closest rival, Red Bull , came from behind and subsequently seized the initiative.
And although the Maranello team has not yet relinquished the title, Binotto is very clear in stating that the goal for 2022 was never to win the Formula 1 championship.
“I think our goal was to get competitive again and stay competitive throughout the year,” he said.
“We were competitive at the beginning and we’ve been able to develop the car and remain competitive. So yeah, so far at least we’re hitting our targets.”
Referring to whether the pressure of the title fight was too great at times, Binotto said: “I think the pressure, for Ferrari , will always be there.
“I think that’s something we can’t change, because it’s part of what the brand stands for in terms of history, and it’s what people always expect from us.”
“We have to deal with that pressure, as it will never go away. I think that is also part of our good form: the ability of the team to be able to deal with the pressure and stay focused on what each one has to do.” , he concluded.
