wowgr8 wrote: ↑14 Feb 2023, 13:48
They keep pivoting in approaches, it was confidence before Binotto then humility under Binotto now it's back to extreme confidence again. I hope it's not just empty words and that they actually made steps to fix last year's problems specifically operationally.
I think we should be fair to Binotto here - at the beginning of the 2022 season, Binotto communicated quite clearly that 2022 is the year in which Ferrari wants to win, but they don't want to talk about the title yet, because in 2022 they have to take the last development steps. Considering what we know today about the engine and its development, Binotto's assessment and the stated goals were completely realistic. Ferrari was not in a position to fight for the world championship in 2022, either technically or in terms of the team. From this point of view, it would have been stupid and unrealistic to talk about the title. But Binotto also said clearly that 2023 would be the year in which Ferrari would fight for the title. The talk that with Vasseur the whole thing is now so different, is nonsense, because under Binotto it would not have been different. In 2023 we should be ready to fight for the title. 2022 in view of an engine that was not yet developed far enough to talk about the title would have been unrealistic. There was a clear roadmap. Binotto stuck to it. Fans and the media in Italy then unfortunately (as so often) built up pressure completely unnecessarily and in ignorance of the facts, thanks to their impatience. But anyway - it would be no different today even with Binotto. The confidence would be the same, because he has already said in 2022 that in 2023 they are ready to fight for the title. There was a roadmap and development plan. And that saw 2022 as the last year of a three-year development plan, after which they would be fighting for the world championship in 2023. So with or without Binotto, the confidence would be completely the same in 2023. Ferrari has followed through on its development plan thanks to Binotto. And should Ferrari be successful in 2023 and win the title (which I don't believe, because Binotto's departure will have negative consequences both technically and within the team) - then this is thanks to Binotto, who resisted the demands of the bosses for quick solutions and changes and maintained the direction previously planned for 2022 (calm and continuous further development in one direction with a focus on 2023).Even if it cost him his head!
If Ferrari really does win the title, they should build a monument to him, because Binotto put Ferrari's well-being above his own and did exactly what he learned from Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne - that continuous, conscious and targeted development is the path to success. And that the influence of the Italian media and fans, who act with a lot of passion but without any sense or logical thinking, and the interference of the Ferrari bosses is Ferrari's real problem.
