Binotto Dismisses Impact of Key Advantage Ferrari Gained With Their Poor 2020 F1 Outing

Ferrari have arguably been the most improved team of the season. The Italian team had a dismal 2020 season when they finished sixth in the constructors’ championship. They are currently joint P3 with McLaren in the championship in 2021. The improvements made by the team at the end of last year have paid dividends this season.

Unfortunately, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes the improvements made in the wind tunnel have not been that significant. He has revealed that the team have gained less than 0.1 seconds per lap after a week of development.

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Extra wind tunnel time not a “game-changer” – Mattia Binotto

As reported by Motorsport, the position the team finished last season has enabled them to have more time in the wind tunnel. Ferrari have a total of 40 runs in the wind tunnel as compared to Mercedes‘ 36.

Despite that, Binotto believes the in-season development in the wind tunnel will not be that significant.

“Obviously for the position we finished last year we’ve got some more time at the wind tunnel,” said Binotto.

Formula One F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – April 17, 2021, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto during practice REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

“The extra time we’ve got is corresponding to what we call sessions of the wind tunnel in the entire season, so it’s an extra session. And normally an extra session is a week of development, and normally a week of development is less than 0.1 seconds per lap.”

While Binotto acknowledges that the extra time has helped them, he doesn’t believe it is as helpful as people make it out to be.

“So yes, it is certainly an advantage, but it’s less than 0.1 seconds per lap. It’s still important, I’m still happy to have it, not because of the result of last year but because at least it’s something we’ve got in 2021.

“But we don’t believe that’s a game-changer. It is not,” he added.

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Ferrari team principal points out the area in which they have improved

The Maranello team have improved significantly since last season. They are consistently qualifying and finishing in the top-10. Binotto revealed that the team has improved 0.7 seconds in the qualifying from last season.

Formula One F1 – Monaco Grand Prix – Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco – May 20, 2021 Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto in the FIA Press Conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS

“If we look at the lap time, the pure car performance, let’s say quali last year–because we are all at the maximum performance… if we take the average of the entire season we were 1.4s off the pole and today we are 0.7 [seconds].

“So, 0.7 is still a distance, it’s not negligible, we are fully aware of it, but still, I think we halved the gap to the best,” said Binotto.

All things considered, Ferrari seem to be on an upward trajectory this season. Can they keep the momentum going to finish in the top-five in 2021?

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