F1 | Binotto and 25 years at Ferrari: "I learned about the winning mentality, now I have to replicate it"

From test engineer to Ferrari team principal. Having arrived in Maranello way back in 1995, Mattia Binotto has climbed the Cavallino hierarchies in these 25 years, arriving in January 2019 to lead the Gestion Sportiva, replacing Maurizio Arrivabene. The Italian-Swiss lived through the golden era with Michael Schumacher but also many difficult moments, like the one the Red team is currently going through.

"I was a privileged man – declared Binotto, interviewed by Formula1.com – I had the privilege of seeing the early 2000s with Jean Todt, Ross (Brawn), Michael Schumacher, all those drivers and the victories we achieved. I think that was important in my career, because I learned a lot at the time".

Binotto then added: “I learned about the mindset you need to win. I think I've learned how you have to try to build a team and now I have to try to replicate that. In these 25 years I have seen that there are always difficult moments. It is important to remain patient, but still determined, to try to do well and improve. In Formula 1 you can never be satisfied with yourself, so it's always continuous improvement. We need to build step by step".

The current Ferrari's objective is to create solid foundations for the future, in conjunction with the establishment of the new regulations which will come into force starting from the 2022 season. 

"We know it will take time – admitted Binotto – It's a long journey, we're in obvious difficulty at the moment. But I think if you look back at the history of Ferrari, there have always been moments of difficulty and somehow we've always bounced back, and I think that's what we're looking for".