Formula 1, overtaking tests by Ferrari Binotto: “We’re going to Bahrain to win”

The Cavallino team principal speaks on the eve of the World Cup: “We are powerful and fast”

the interview

“I would not sign up for a second place in Bahrain.” «We will be competitive on every track». “We have a car that is as fast and easy to develop as we expected.” “The engine is now as powerful as that of the competition, and perhaps even more.” A few days before the start of Formula 1, Mattia Binotto takes on the responsibility and the pleasure of presenting a Ferrari that he has succeeded as he wanted it.

The apprehension of the first laps gave way to lightness. But are six days of testing enough to take on the role of Red Bull challenger? And to consider himself faster than the Mercedes eight times in a row winner of the constructors’ title? One thing is certain: a year ago these days, Binotto analyzed the situation with equal calmness and, after having listed defects and delays, promised: «You will see in 2022 …».

Here we are: qualifying on Saturday, the race on Sunday, the championship begins in Sakhir. It is no longer time to dress up or pretend, as so many did during testing. Maranello’s engineers have tried to measure who is really strong: they took the GPS data, purified them of the effect of the aerodynamic trails and approximated the calculation of the petrol loads. Result: the engine, which paid 25 horsepower to Honda and Mercedes in 2021, made up the difference. And perhaps it is even more powerful, an advantage that it will carry with it for four years as a regulation. «Don’t take me for presumptuous – explains the team principal in videoconference with the Italian press. – Our goal is to fight in every race, therefore at the start, but I want to go to Bahrain and aim for the best ».

The key word is “correlation”: when there is, the car behaves on the track as expected in the simulator and in the wind tunnel. And viceversa. It is the ideal situation for the designers: from Maranello to the track and back, all the new pieces tested work as expected. «What we thought, imagined and designed was confirmed on the circuit. In these early days we had to build a foundation for subsequent developments. It was the first objective of the tests and we achieved it ». The lack of correlation was one of the problems of the latest Cavallino single-seaters: technicians and drivers did not understand why the car was running more or less fast.

Second key word: hopping. It is a consequence of the ground effect that no one had considered, “also because it occurs between 250 and 270 kilometers per hour, while the wind tunnel cannot exceed 180. However, we already had a piece that reduced the effect. and that we rode in Barcelona already on the second day ». The problem will be solved by a tie rod connected to the gearbox.

Then, as on any self-respecting eve, controversy and poisons overlap the technical considerations. Mercedes is late, but still argues for its wing mirrors: legal by regulation, but contrary to the spirit of F1. “I don’t expect appeals – says Binotto -. Nobody questions the legality. But I remember 2018 and our halo mirror. That was also legal, but the FIA ​​intervened with a technical directive that forced us to remove it because it had an aerodynamic function that was not incidental. We will see this time ».

Very different machines were born from the new rules. Binotto says he is amazed: «I am pleased, it is the beauty of this sport. The new regulation seems to have achieved its objectives: the gaps between the top teams and the other teams have decreased, overtaking is facilitated, performance will converge ».

Let’s wait for the first five Grands Prix before making any predictions, Binotto still recommends. “After that, the ability to develop will be decisive. And to save ». –