For the 2022 Ferrari F1 project, Binotto will skip races in a “critical phase”

After skipping Turkey, Ferrari Formula One team principal Mattia Binotto says he will work from Maranello at two more races in 2021, as the team’s 2022 car project approaches a “critical phase.”

Last year, Binotto skipped the Turkish and Bahrain Grands Prix to work from Ferrari’s base as a warm-up for this season, when teams will be obliged to combine a hectic schedule with an intensive development program for the all-new cars due in 2022.

Due to illness, Binotto was unable to attend the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, turning over the reins to Ferrari’s sporting director Laurent Mekies.

Following up on his experiment in 2020, Binotto had chosen Turkey as one of the 2021 race weekends for which he would stay at home and help monitor Ferrari’s 2022 car project.

He also stated on Sunday that he will not be flying to Mexico or Brazil.

“This is one of the races I was targeting to be back home,” he said.

“Obviously, the calendar has changed a couple of times since the very start, so I changed a bit my plans, but certainly Turkey was one of these ones.

“I will skip at least another two races before the end of the season. At the moment I’m planning Mexico and Brazil.

“The reason is as you may imagine, especially Mexico and Brazil, overseas, it’s a long trip, while here back at Maranello there is clearly much to do, it’s an entire team to somehow manage, both the chassis and the power unit, and the entire organisation.”

Binotto thinks his presence at home is beneficial as Ferrari’s 2022 project approaches a “critical phase” in the final stages of development, and he praises Mekies’ efforts as Ferrari’s racing driver.

“We are in terms of 2022 development certainly in a critical phase, where time is getting closer and closer,” he explained.

“I’m happy to be here. On Thursday and Friday, being in the office, I can certainly be more focused on whatever is happening back here in Maranello. On Saturday and Sunday, I’m fully dedicated to the race weekend.

“I’m missing the networks in the paddock, but Laurent Mekies can do a great job. I’m very happy with how he is managing the entire team when I am not there, so I am very happy with that.”

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