Probably one of the most difficult moments for F1, dealing with the COVID-19 disease from a couple of months. Anything else happened in the recent past can be compared to these weeks: with a championship still to kick off, Formula1.com has gathered with Mattia Binotto for a chat covering some, different themes. Starting form the virus spreading.

Early summer shutdown

The health of our employees is important. It's our top priority

As one of the top employers of Italy (the best for several years), Ferrari has always put humans in front of the machines: Binotto knows it and knows the valuable time spending with families ahead one of another tough season for Maranello:

These three weeks of shutdown - an anticipation of the summer break - will serve to fill up your energy and then to push hard in the following months

2021(+1) rules

When interviewed Binotto wasn't still aware of the latest decision of FIA: postponing of one more year the new package of rules was probably one of biggest outcomes of the contagion that world is facing; but Binotto was already determined to complete the transistion when originally programmed:

We must carefully evaluate every aspect and see if it is not really the case to think about possibly postponing the introduction of the new 2021 technical rules. In any case, Ferrari is ready to take responsibility for a choice that must be made in the ultimate interest of this sport, it is certainly not the time for selfishness and tactics

The Monaco Grand Prix will not take place in 2020 due to Coronavirus

Faster when slower, slower when faster

Approaching to the new season, the downforce lacked in 2019, seems to have been regained for 2020: the speed in the corners should have been caught again, and the error of last season of being sucked into the Merceces draft would not be repeated:

The cars we have brought to Melbourne are the ones that finished testing, so we’re not expecting upgrades which will change our relative competitiveness compared to them. [...] [Mercedes] did a great job, so we need to recognise what they did: on our side, we steered the direction of our project into a different direction compared to the past. We have been a lot faster through the corners compared to last year. So the car is doing what we are expecting, being faster in the corners, but we’re slower on the straights

The clash of drivers

The ultimate aspect was the drivers lineup: after last year's ultimate battles and with the negotiations ongong with Sebastian Vettel for the renewal, the theme is quite hot. Talkings and carefulness are the main objective of the championship:

What happened last year was important for both of them. We discussed and had some clarity as to what I’m expecting. The team interest is the top priority, and the constructors’ championship is a key element. We have started discussing a new deal [with Vettel]: it’s not something we will leave until the end of the season. It’s a key moment of his career, because whatever he may do at the start of the season will be important for his renewal [...] Charles' performance took him by surprise; Charles knows that the second year in a top team has more pitfalls, but he is a boy who learns so quickly that I am sure he will be able to manage the pressure in the best way