“A disappointed and a bitter team” – Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto is happy AND bitter with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz after the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Ferrari vs McLaren is going to be big this season, going by events in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The four drivers constantly switched track positions, with the highlight being Lando Norris’ smooth glide past Charles Leclerc at the race restart.
Ferrari did well at the end, with Leclerc and former McLaren Carlos Sainz finishing P4 and P5 respectively. Boss Mattia Binotto was happy with it, albeit disappointed as they feel a home podium was on the cards, potentially a double one.
“The whole team is a bit disappointed and that’s a good thing I think because, without the red flag, we are sure that our potential could have led us also to a better result. And so seeing a disappointed and bitter team is a positive sign because the mentality is to win. This is a good sign.”
Leclerc lost team radio, thought it would be a standing start
The incident between George Russell and Valtteri Bottas and the resultant debris compelled Race Director Michael Masi to Red Flag the race. As drivers discussed strategies with their teams, Leclerc was seen struggling with the team radio.
Binotto has now confirmed Leclerc lost incoming communication, which might have played a part in the aforementioned overtake by Norris.
“Also after the restart, when Charles was behind Verstappen, he did not have the radio. So he was speaking with us, but we didn’t manage to speak with him.
“And Charles in that situation was distracted from the radio, he knew he couldn’t communicate with us, he didn’t even know it was a rolling start, he thought the race restarted from the grid.
“Then he noticed that when they were going. But for a driver, these are all conditions that make things even more complicated in an already difficult moment.”
Read more “Maybe you spin yourself” – Should Charles Leclerc have overtaken Max Verstappen in Imola restart?
