Mattia Binotto has refused to concede defeat in the F1 World Championship, despite the catastrophic setback Ferrari suffered with Charles Leclerc’s retirement at the French GP.
The team principal maintains that Ferrari can recover the points deficit and take a series of race victories this season, insisting that the team will continue to focus on one race at a time, as he told motorsport.com:
“What we are focused on is trying to go to each race and get the maximum results from it…I think what’s more important to see is the good package.
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“There is no reason why not to win ten races from now to the end. I think that the way to look at it is positively, and I like to be positive – staying optimistic.”
Many would describe Binotto’s words as bordering on delusion.
However, it cannot be said Ferrari is incapable of reducing the points gap and applying some pressure on Red Bull, especially if the Austrian squad suffer reliability issues.
Whilst they might cling to this tiny slither of hope, Ferrari can point to several rounds (Spain, Baku, Monaco, Britain) where they dropped significant points, which could eventually prove costly in their rapidly deteriorating Championship hopes:
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“Could something happen to Max and Red Bull? It already happened to them as it happened to us."
"Maybe it happens as well. But I’m not counting on it. I think we need to be focused on ourselves and do the best [we can].”
Given Ferrari’s consistent strategic and operational shortcomings, compared to Red Bull’s ruthless efficiency, it seems unlikely the Italian squad can reclaim their position at the top of the standings.
F1 might be a highly unpredictable series, but Ferrari must address some of its fundamental problems to reclaim the Championship that has eluded them for over a decade.
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