Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has spoken of his pain at seeing other teams celebrating success following another disappointing season for the Scuderia.
Ferrari finished third in the Constructors’ Standings in 2021, beating McLaren to the top three following five podiums between Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.
Max Verstappen won the title in a dramatic season finale in Abu Dhabi, beating Sir Lewis Hamilton to championship glory. The Silver Arrows, meanwhile, wrapped up the constructors’ title for a record eighth time.
All the while, Sainz and Leclerc were embroiled in a battle for fifth in the Drivers’ Standings with McLaren’s Lando Norris.
The final race naturally sparked wild Red Bull celebrations, and Binotto has looked on enviously.
“We can’t say we’re happy, and we’re not happy to see other people partying,” a candid Binotto said in Abu Dhabi.
READ: Binotto says Ferrari must be ready to address its weaknesses in 2022
Ferrari have competed in F1 since the inception of the world championship in 1950, and have claimed 31 championships between drivers’ and constructors’ successes. However, their last team’s title arrived back in 2008, while they have not had a drivers’ champion since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.
Binotto is adamant that the Maranello outfit must work hard to return to the front of the grid as soon as possible.
“At Ferrari, getting back on top is our responsibility. For Ferrari, winning should always be the goal.”
The Scuderia have not won a race since the Singapore Grand Prix in 2019, when Sebastian Vettel took the chequered flag ahead of Hamilton and team-mate Leclerc.
Binotto has admitted the last two years have been tough, but the Italian will not give up:
“These two years have taught us the fatigue of not being able to compete for the best positions, and patience. After all, we can’t say we are satisfied, and we are not happy to see others celebrating.
“So I say fatigue, patience and when it’s important, to improve in order to reach these goals and objectives of ours.”
Ferrari managed two pole positions in Monaco and Azerbaijan in 2021 – both through Charles Leclerc – but the Monegasque was unable to convert either into victory.
He was unable to start his home race following a crash in qualifying, and he finished P4 in Baku.
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