There was a lot of expectations on the team going into the season as many had predicted them to fight for the constructor's championship.
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Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said that he felt relieved after his team achieved an incredible 1-2 finish in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. Charles Leclerc, who started the race from pole position, ended P1 while his teammate Carlos Sainz finished P2. It was the Scuderia’s first 1-2 finish since 2019. There was a lot of expectations on the team going into the season as many had predicted them to fight for the constructor’s championship. The fact that the prancing horse met those expectations and delivered a perfect start to the season was relieving for Binotto.
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“It is certainly a relief but more than that I think it is happiness because at the end it is great to be back, it is great to fight for the best,” Binotto told the F1 Nation podcast. “Our competitors are very, very strong but we got the edge and to have somehow a one-two, it is incredible to start the season like that. We know it will be difficult for the rest of the season but for a while, let’s drink up the moment and try to enjoy.”
At one point it seemed like reigning champion Max Verstappen would finish in second place with Sainz in P3, but the Dutchman had to retire his car due to what he considered a battery issue. Binotto said that he was overjoyed with the result and one that he was not quite expecting.
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“It is incredible, I am very happy,” the Italian said. “I think we were not hoping for or expecting it but it is a great result for the team and I think that the team has worked very hard to get there. It is more than two years [since the last win], it has been a very difficult situation but we remain united and we try to improve ourselves in all areas and what we had was a great race.”
“I think we have been good in all the aspects. The car was great, the drivers were fantastic, the pit stops…magic.”
