Lots of pressure on Ferrari despite good start: 'We're far from finished'

Ferrari has been in search of a world title since 2007, especially with the legacy of Michael Schumacher in mind. Ferrari has been in F1 since day one, but most people still remember the team for the most dominant period in Formula 1 history between 2000 and 2004.

Confidence in Binotto

After 2007, however, no title was won and one team boss after another made way for his successor. The Italian team was not known for its considered decisions and this was reflected in its policies. This was until Binotto was appointed as team boss. After the disaster year in 2020, there was plenty of reason to fire him, but Ferrari kept faith in the self-trained engineer.

And that confidence is now paying off in 2022. Binotto has moulded the entire team to his will. A young organization with a lot of freedom for the technical people and that fresh look will ensure a fast F1-75 in the opening phase of the new season. ''Of course there was a lot of pressure. Also pressure that I had imposed on myself'', the Ferrari team boss now says about that to the German Bild.

Smart choice by Ferrari

''It wasn't just the winter (in which we worked hard). This kind of project takes years. It has been a long road and we are not finished yet. There is still a lot to do and to improve. We want to bring the Ferrari culture back to this team, that's what defines us,'' says the Italian.

According to experts, Ferrari owes the lead to a major investment in 2021. Whereas Mercedes and Red Bull Racing needed a lot of attention for their title fight, Ferrari shifted its attention to 2022 very early on. Binotto, however, does not argue that this lead is as big as people ascribe to them. A balance can only really be drawn after five races, concludes the team's former technical director.