Binotto finally wakes up: 'There is something wrong that we need to address'
Mattia Binotto has admitted that something needs to change at Ferrari. Max Verstappen has once again beaten the Italians at the Dutch Grand Prix and the Red Bull Racing driver, along with his team, is moving further ahead in the championship.
Charles Leclerc crossed the finish line in third place at the Zandvoort circuit, while Carlos Sainz finished only eighth after a failed pit stop and a time penalty following an unsafe release. The Italian team will now have to focus mainly on P2 in the Constructors' Championship, but even that may be a difficult task. After all, Mercedes looked fast this weekend.
"The key is we have not been fast enough. If you look at the quali pace of yesterday were hoping for a better result today, but the speed of car was not great - especially on the medium and hard," Binotto began to Sky Sports.
Binotto: 'Something is wrong'
Leclerc made a pit stop just before the VSC caused by Yuki Tsunoda, but Verstappen was able to take advantage. "Maybe a bit unlucky with Charles in the pitstop with the safety car but I don't think it would be enough," he said. " Three bad races in a row - Hungary, Spa and here that I think we aren't exploiting the full potential of the car. The potential is there. It was the case at the start of the season but not now. I think if I look at it, it was a late call. No time to react."
"There is something wrong that we need to address. Nothing to do with the TD. In Hungary, I said we weren't good enough. Maybe we need to look at the package we introduced that aren't balanced today," said the Ferrari team boss.
The thing that puzzles me is how quick Ferrari can be in qualy, but not when they are on soft tires late in the race (with the fuel tank mostly empty). Surely those 2 situations are very similar? The only thing I can think of is that they must have very high tire deg if they push hard in those 2 situations. Which isn't a problem in qualy, but if you need to speed through 12 laps on softs, it might be.
It's a shame, 'cause the championship was given to Max too easily. Max is the most talent driver of the current generation, but early in the middle of the year Ferrari made too many mistakes that helped Red Bull and put them in the sight of Mercedes. It isn't just the pace, it's the management. Today I was hoping for a Ferrari win, so the season could go 'till the end, but it's over. Max will be a champion way before the last race.
they are not following any strategy but reacting with an algorythm. Just as before but now with a buch of plans
It's not just the strategists anymore. The whole team is a shambles. Having no rear tyre available or having the wrong tyres are rookie mistakes. Releasing Sainz unsafely is downright amateurish. Leaving a wheel gun lying in the way. It's pathetic and someone needs to be held accountable!!! Never mind the plans. Having plans A,B,C,D,E just shows they have no clear direction! Poor Charles and Carlos are trying to stay positive, but you can sense their levels of pessimism!!!
Yes agree. Its' a team wide issue. Really that means it comes down to Binotto himself. I hate to say that but really just like Mercedes the problems are at the very top. They trickle down from there. I like the guy as he is the exact opposite of Toto, but like Toto this falls on his shoulders. Strategy yes is the most obvious problem, but when a driver like Lewis can position higher than half the Ferrari team in a car that until today was slower than Ferrari there is a problem overall. I still think that Ferrari is the best car but what good is that when you cant put a plan together and implement it effectively. Mercedes will take 2nd place with a car that is only as fast as the RedBull car.
Well said mate! True facts. The opening 2022 races were very nice to see Ferrari again among frontrunners. But they screwed up all till now. I hope they would be able to be stronger in 2023, but they need to improve in all fields. It would be very nice for F1 at all to have them on top fighting for win in every race.
They need to sort them self out big time with it .whole pit team needs to be replaced
Pitcrew is fine. They do good stops. The strategists on the wall are making the most embarrassing calls. Pit crew improved a lot this season.
The championship is over for us, but Ferrari needs to reshuffle and hire a better strategist team, else this will repeat in 2023. Ferrari is always on the wrong strategy.......and they are waiting for others to lead the way. How can you win if you follow others?
You are right , many things at Ferrari could and should improve regarding race strategies first There is complete mess. But i think as well Ferrari has had less upgrades till now comparing to MB and RB. So car developing is as well without strong plan and straight direction. They have lost the ground to RB and MB is close to them to fight equally for positions on track. Now they have to beat MB first and than chase down Max, which makes their title hopes very difficult to achive. I feel sorry for Charles , he is great guy , very fast and talented driver and he deserved much more this season in terms of points and wins. I expected him to fight with Max till the very end for 2022 WC driver title.
I feel sorry for both the drivers too.....and especially for charles, as he just lost his championship. we had the fastest car for almost half the season and now it seems Ferrari is the 3rd fastest car. the TD has helped Mercedes with race pace.
Ferrari are due 1 final upgrade on the engine front. A light (weight reduction), super fast, perhaps unreliable engine will come into play before the lock-in period. This is what RB engineers have told me over the weekend; so take it with a grain of salt BUT they are often right............ ;) but remember the rumour
Charles is the only guy that can fight max on equal equipment. That is my personal view. When there was only 0.1 between them, we saw some great battles...........
Ferrari way off the pace on a circuit that's supposed to suit them. They're back in 2021 now.
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