The former team principal doesn’t hold back against the Scuderia: “Their working method…”
Once again, Mattia Binotto has made headlines with comments that are bound to spark debate. In a recent interview, he took a swipe at Ferrari while speaking about Audi’s new Formula 1 project, which is coming off a difficult weekend in China.
The relationship between the two sides certainly did not end on good terms. After a series of successes during the Schumacher era, the man from Lausanne was unable to keep Ferrari at the top. Episodes such as the famous radio exchange with Charles Leclerc at Silverstone in 2022 are still fresh in the minds of many fans – especially Ferrari supporters.
The former team principal of the Maranello-based team, now working within the structure that has taken over Sauber, explained how Audi’s working method is very different from what he experienced during his years in red.
Mattia Binotto takes a dig at Ferrari: his words
“My role? It’s not necessarily more difficult, but it’s different,” Binotto began in an interview with L’Équipe. “The culture is what really changes – compared to Ferrari, it isn’t Latin. At Maranello, processes didn’t really exist; people would simply try things. There was no real need for a structured plan to reach the objective. At Audi, which has a more German-Swiss culture, you don’t act without a plan: the plan comes first “.
However, the line that is likely to create the biggest reaction came when he was asked whether the goal was to make Audi a Formula 1 powerhouse like Ferrari. Binotto’s answer was direct: “Why should I do that? They haven’t won anything since 2008. I want Audi to win.” The reference is clearly to Ferrari’s last world title – the Constructors’ Championship in 2008 – while the drivers’ title has not returned to Maranello since 2007, when Kimi Räikkönen won the championship.
Despite the provocation, Binotto admitted to the French newspaper that the Audi project will take time before it can reach the top of the category. The German manufacturer’s plan includes three years of building the structure and another two years of consolidation, with the goal of consistently fighting for the world title around 2030.
The road ahead for the new team is therefore still long, but the message seems clear: despite his previous leadership at Ferrari, Audi will follow a completely different path from what Binotto experienced in Maranello.
Photo: Audi Revolut F1 Team
