Mattia Binotto does ‘not care’ who the revised rules favour, he doesn’t want changes
Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto with his hand to his head. Bahrain March 2022.
Ahead of the FIA’s confirmation of the 2023 regulations, Mattia Binotto says he still doesn’t see a reason to change the rules to limit porpoising.
Ferrari, as well as five other teams including Red Bull, are at loggerheads with motorsport’s governing body after proposed changes to the regulations regarding the cars’ floors ahead of next year’s championship.
The FIA wants to raise the floor edges by 25mm, as well as the height of the diffuser throat, in an attempt to reduce the porpoising that this year’s ground effect aerodynamic cars suffer.
They have cited the health and safety of the drivers as the reason for changing the rules so late in the season but Binotto reckons the teams have already resolved the bouncing themselves and therefore the FIA doesn’t need to intervene.
“I hope there won’t be any changes,” the team boss told Motorsport.com. “I don’t see any real reasons to make changes to the technical regulations for safety reasons, especially if we look at the latest races.
“In addition, if the aerodynamic regulations were to change for 2023 it would be a considerable problem considering the time of year we are in, there would be very little time to change the concept of the new car.
“And, I repeat, there are no reasons to introduce changes to the technical regulation by citing safety reasons. So, I think it can’t happen, and if it does, we’ll try to figure out how to stop them.”
Ferrari have previously warned that the FIA’s attempts to change the rules could lead to legal proceedings, the Scuderia and five others teams said to be opposed to any changes whatsoever.
It has, however, been rumoured that they have since agreed a compromise with the FIA although the terms of that have not been revealed.
What the floors have done, though, is unite Ferrari with their title rivals Red Bull.
While in previous seasons, the top two teams have often gone head-to-head when it comes to nit picking the regulations such as last year’s Mercedes versus Red Bull flexi-wing drama, this time around it is the top two versus Mercedes.
Asked about Ferrari’s relationship with Red Bull, Binotto said: “We are opposed in the fight for the championship, but when it comes to regulations and the future, I think there should only be common sense for the good of Formula 1 as a whole.
“I have no idea if any changes to the regulations would be in our favour or in Red Bull’s favour, I don’t know and I don’t care.
“If you think in this way on every single topic, then it becomes lobbying, a certainly not a positive attitude for sport in the medium and long term, and as Ferrari we certainly have the responsibility to look also to the medium and long term.
“I believe it is very important to always have a responsible and balanced approach when evaluating and making crucial decisions for the future of this sport.”
