With F1 introducing a new set of regulations for 2022, teams have been putting extra effort on the development of next year’s single seaters. And for this reason Ferrari’s Team Principal Mattia Binotto had already announced at the beginning of the season that he would have taken some time off from the paddock to concentrate on the work that’s being done back at the factory.   

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

“The reason is, as you may imagine, especially Mexico and Brazil, overseas, it’s a long trip, while here back at Maranello there is a lot to do, clearly much to do. It’s an entire team to manage, both the chassis and the power unit, and the entire organisation. We are in terms of 2022 development certainly in a critical phase, where time is getting closer and closer.”

Binotto staying in Maranello means Ferrari’s Racing Director Laurent Mekies is stepping in to manage the team and make sure things run smoothly inside the paddock.

“From the way I’m managing the race weekend… 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, it’s fully dedicated to the race weekend. I’m missing the networks in the paddock, but Laurent Mekies can do a great job.”

Nothing new for the team, as Binotto had already missed Turkey and Bahrain last year for the same reason, with Mekies filling in on his trackside duties.

“I’m very happy with how he is managing the entire team when I am not there, so I am very happy with that. I am being told as well that the flight to Istanbul was very bumpy, so I’m very happy to skip!”