Mattia Binotto says he wants to “duplicate” the approach Ferrari had during its most successful era with Michael Schumacher as he looks to turn the team around.
This season has seen the Scuderia slip to their worst start to a season since 2009 with a total of just 66 points from the first nine races, leaving them sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.
In response, Binotto announced an overhaul of the team’s technical department focused primarily on performance to solve the aerodynamic and power unit deficits that have left them trailing so far behind.
Further to that, the Swiss chief says he’s drawing on his experience from a quarter of a century at Ferrari to try and revive the glory days.
“I’ve been a privileged man,” said Binotto via PlanetF1. “I was privileged to see the start of the 2000s with Jean Todt, Ross [Brawn], Michael Schumacher and all those drivers, the victories we had.
“I think it was important for me in my career because I learned a lot at the time.
“I learned about mentality, the type of mentality you need to win. I think I learned how you need to try to set up a team and now I need to try to duplicate it.
“What I’ve seen in those 25 years are that there are always moments that can be very difficult,” he added.
“I think when you’ve got those times, it’s important to stay patient but still determined, try to do well and improve.
“In Formula 1, you can never be self-satisfied, so it’s always a continuous improvement and I think there’s not a single bullet. So what’s important here is to really try to build step by step and I think the objectives should be very challenging.
“I think what we are looking for is not a single victory but to try to create solid foundations for eventually a new cycle. We know it will take time.
“It’s a long journey and I think again we are in a clear difficulty at the moment. But I think if you look back at the Ferrari history, there have always been moments of difficulty and we have always somehow got back from them, and I think that’s really what we are looking for.”
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Despite some external questions and even some self-doubt, Binotto has continued to have the backing of Ferrari’s top bosses, CEO Louis Camilleri and Chairman John Elkann.
And he insists the Scuderia is working as one to put themselves back where they feel Ferrari belongs.
“I’ve got the commitment, the trust and the support of my top management, which is great,” he said.
“Even more, I think we’ve got the support of the entire team, and I think that as well is important, and having an entire team supporting the values, the vision and objectives is key.
“How long will it take us to get back? Obviously now we are in a difficult situation at the moment because of the regulations. A lot of components are frozen, [we are] limited in the activities we may do in the wind tunnel or simulations.
“So I think 2020 is certainly very difficult, 2021 I hope we can do better than what we are doing today. But I think 2022 will be our most important opportunity.”
One of those men Binotto mentioned when he recalled Ferrari’s most dominant era, Ross Brawn, also believes the team already has what it needs to get back to the front, it just needs to organisation.
“I’ve been fortunate to see a large part of Ferrari’s 1000 races, including of course a memorable period working there,” he wrote in his post-Mugello Formula1.com column.
“I have fond memories of my time at Maranello. We enjoyed a lot of success, but only after several tough years putting the building blocks in place.
“Ferrari has a lot of work ahead of them to return to the front but a kneejerk reaction never solves a problem.
“A structured plan is needed and the time given for it to come together. The team may need strengthening, but it doesn’t need a revolution.”
