Mattia Binotto Hints at Ferrari Having a Difficult F1 Campaign Till 2022

Published 04/09/2020, 4:25 AM EDT

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Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes the Italian team is at a disadvantage due to F1 delaying 2021 regulations. The rapid spread of the Coronavirus pandemic has paralyzed the 2020 Formula 1 season. With factories shutdown and no races being held so far, F1 had no option but to defer the newer regulations by a year.

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Ferrari doesn’t benefit from the regulations delay

The extended shutdown severely affects midfield teams which operate on a smaller budget when compared to the top 3.  If teams do not compete in races, they lose out on essential sponsorship money. As a result, teams must race to fulfill their contractual obligations.

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The lack of running hinders funds from coming in, which in turn affects car development. Had F1 not deferred the rules, many of the smaller teams would have had no choice but to walk away. While the postponement of rules is a lifeline for some teams, it’s a small headache for Ferrari.

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The Scuderia’s 2020 car – the SF1000 hasn’t shown any signs of competitiveness or dominance. After preseason testing, several experts wrote off the 2020 car and claimed it would struggle. Binotto himself revealed that the team had low expectations heading into this season.

The SF1000 is the SF90’s slower but more stable cousin. While the 2019 car lacked downforce and struggled in the slower corners, the SF1000 excels in that area. However, the 2020 car is nowhere near as fast as the SF90. Going by preseason testing, the SF1000 lacks the top-end punch.

Binotto backs F1’s decision

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Mattia Binotto believes the regulations delay puts Ferrari on the back foot. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Binotto said:

“Obviously we know some teams were in difficulty, time would become very tight to develop new cars for 2021, so I think at the end that was the right choice. Is that somehow not in favor of Ferrari? Very likely, yes

“I think it was the right and good decision,”

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“[I] think what’s important for us is to be flexible. I think that Chase [Carey, Formula 1 CEO] and the teams will be capable of putting in place the best championship we can have”

Binotto hinted at Ferrari supporting F1’s decisions over the 2020 calendar. The Italian said the Scuderia would back the FIA and remain flexible regarding race schedules.

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Written by:

Abhishek Bharadwaj

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Abhishek Bharadwaj is an F1 author and content strategist at EssentiallySports. Having joined ES in January 2020, he has over 700 articles to his name. While he was first introduced to the world of F1 in 2006, he started religiously following the sport in 2012 and has had an undying passion for it ever since.
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