Ferrari not as fast as Mercedes, Red Bull - Binotto
Mattia Binotto feels Ferrari is currently slower than rival squads Mercedes and Red Bull as the first 2020 Formula 1 pre-season test heads towards its conclusion at Barcelona.
Ferrari made a low-key start to testing on Wednesday with the eighth fastest time on the opening day, where it was behind both Mercedes – which topped the times with Lewis Hamilton's 1m16.976s – and Red Bull.
Sebastian Vettel was able to set a lap 0.2 seconds faster than Hamilton on day two, but he was still adrift of Alexander Albon's effort for Red Bull, and so far on the final day of the first test on Friday Ferrari has lost major running after Vettel suffered an engine failure mid-way through the morning.
In the same session, Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas significantly lowered the best time of testing so far to a 1m15.732s, and afterwards Binotto said he is "not as optimistic as last year" because "the others are faster than us at the moment".
"How much faster I think it's really difficult to judge and we'll go through all the data in the next days, but I don't think we are as fast as them at the moment," he continued.
"Do we have any concerns? Certainly, yes – when you are not as fast as you would like to be. But I think it's really too early [a] stage to define them and to understand.
"And so three days for us have been very important because at least we have collected all the data now to have a clear picture and better understanding.
"What will be even more important will be making sure we are developing the car in the right direction. Having said that, it's a very long season – 22 races, potentially. So I think there will be time to recover eventually.
"But let's wait for next week and for Australia before to assess what is the true performance for everybody."
When asked if the SF1000 was a potential Mercedes-beater, Binotto said: "I think it's a very early stage to decide.
"[But] I think Ferrari will be a beater if you consider the overall of the season. Will Ferrari be a beater already in Australia? Maybe not.
"I've seen certainly Mercedes, and Red Bull, very fast in these first days. But I think we will assess the true performance only next week or in Australia.
"And that will be true performance to start the season with, knowing that 22 races are very long and everything may change."
Binotto also explained that the SF1000 "will not differ much" from testing to Melbourne and said Ferrari will not be a big update package to Australia.
"But I think the potential is there," he added. "So at first I think it's [about] optimising the current package and developing it."
Racing Point will only develop DAS if benefits are clear
Bottas feels rivals will struggle to copy DAS
The inevitable consequence of the Liberty F1 popularity boom
Sell out crowds at Formula 1 races are the norm rather than the exception these days, as grand prix racing is enjoying a massive boom under Liberty Media. But the Spanish Grand Prix highlighted numerous issues some circuits may face as demand for F1 soars
The danger for Red Bull in its Barcelona F1 team orders choice
OPINION: Red Bull walked into a team orders saga on its way to taking a Spanish Grand Prix 1-2 last weekend, where it took the lead of the 2022 Formula 1 world championships for the first time. But its decisions have added an element of risk to later races.
Why Mercedes' Spanish GP gains aren't as grand as they seemed
Mercedes' strong showing in last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix prompted team boss Toto Wolff to say it had halved its deficit to the leaders and its Formula 1 title chances were back on after a rocky start to the 2022 campaign. But a closer inspection of the team's performance suggests its gains aren't as grand as they first appeared
What's next for the Green Red Bull controversy?
From the 'pink Mercedes' to the 'Green Red Bull', the Silverstone-based team has received suspicious glares from up and down the Formula 1 paddock over its car design exploits. But after being cleared by the FIA over its Spanish Grand Prix updates amid a backdrop of cries of foul play, what's next in this saga?
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
In an unusually hectic Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc was denied a dominant performance by his Ferrari engine letting go which allowed Max Verstappen to pick up the pieces. But numerous flashpoints kept the race twisting and turning throughout, with one perfect score from an emerging contender
How Verstappen overcame his and Red Bull’s errors to win in Spain
Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari engine disaster offered an open goal for Max Verstappen and Red Bull to strike, but the reigning Formula 1 world champion still had to solve multiple errors and profit from a begrudged assist from team-mate Sergio Perez, which created an unexpectedly eventful Spanish Grand Prix
Why Red Bull can win a Spanish GP that looked perfect for Ferrari
Formula 1's return to Spain on Friday ended with Ferrari leading the way from Mercedes, while Red Bull could only manage third fastest overall courtesy of Max Verstappen. But its chances of victory are far from remote with a deeper dig into the times despite Ferrari's strong start...
The key aspects of Porsche and Audi's planned F1 entries
The VW Group’s German superpowers of sportscar racing have all but confirmed they are coming to F1 when the next set of engine rules come into force in 2026. Here's why both manufacturers are all set to take the plunge, and crucially how it might work