Binotto: Second is never good enough

Second in this year’s championship behind Mercedes and with a driver that can finish at best P3, Mattia Binotto admits 2019 was not “good enough” from Ferrari.

Fielding a changed line up with Charles Leclerc stepping up to Ferrari to replace Kimi Raikkonen as Sebastian Vettel’s new team-mate, much was expected of Ferrari’s young and old line up.

It didn’t pan out.

The Italian stable struggled in the first part of the campaign, losing points and victories due to strategy mistakes, driver errors and reliability issues.

While Ferrari tripped themselves up, Mercedes started the season with eight wins on the trot, racing to a massive lead in both championships.

They wrapped up the Constructors’ and Drivers’ with races to spare, their sixth successive double.

Ferrari had to settle for second in the Constructors’ while Leclerc is still fighting Max Verstappen for third in the Drivers’ standings.

Binotto told Sky Sports: “Of course, finishing second will never be good enough for Ferrari and we are looking ahead to a very intense winter to keep building as a group.

“The aim is to come back stronger to be up to the challenges that await us.”

He, however insists it is not all doom and gloom as the Scuderia bounced back after the summer break with wins in Spa and Monza for Leclerc and a P1 in Singapore for Vettel.

“There were highs and lows,” he added. “The first part of the season did not go the way we wanted, but I certainly value the way we all stood together, rolled up our sleeves and fought back.

“Particularly noteworthy was the way we reacted after the summer break, with three race wins in a row and a run of six consecutive pole positions, as well as our win in Monza, just days after the incredible celebration of the 90 years of the Scuderia, in Milan, in front of a huge crowd.”

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