Breaking news
Formula 1
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.
Alex Kalinauckas
Edited: Feb 21, 2020, 8:39 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
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.
Read Also:
- Where the big three teams show their might at Barcelona
- Using Mercedes DAS like “running in flip-flops” – Vettel
"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."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Racing Point will only develop DAS if benefits are clear
Next article Bottas feels rivals will struggle to copy DAS
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Alex Kalinauckas
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
More from
Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
MotoGP
MotoGP
Charles Leclerc and Pecco Bagnaia: From kings to princes
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Sainz blasts "most unfair penalty ever", seeks stewards' explanation
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
WEC
WEC
Calado: "Difficult" for WEC Hypercar newcomers "to win straight off"
Latest news
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
WEC
WEC WEC 10 min
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
50 min
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
General
Misc General 1 h
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe