Binotto on chances to race until January 2021
Mattia Binotto, interviewed via Skype on Sky Sport Italy, talks about the tough situation Formula 1 has to face due to Coronavirus' pandemic.
During a Skype interview on Sky, Ferrari's team principal Mattia Binotto explains the situation Scuderia Ferrari and Formula 1 as a whole have to face in this first half of 2020.
"As soon as we came back from Australia -Binotto clarifies- we decided to shut down all the factories, even before the FIA's indications.
Even in Melbourne our intention was not to race: in the case Formula 1 would still have taken place, Scuderia Ferrari would not have been on the starting grid. Health and safety are priorities for us, no matter what we may loose along the way."
Ramping Horse's mind was set to be clear since the very beginning: rumors, lately confirmed, wanted Sebastian Vettel on a plane back to Europe even before F1 officialized the cancellation of the Australian Gran Prix. We also have to say that teams already knew they were not going to race, and that the lateness of the official statement was due to local institutions not willing to loose such an event, and to the consequent debate with the heads of Formula 1 and FIA.
Binotto keeps on describing in-team affairs, with drivers being safe and sound and carrying on their training programmes: "I chat with them on a daily basis. They are keeping theirselves well in shape".
Answering to a calendar-related question by italian F1 commentator Carlo Vanzini, Maranello's boss states: "There are many hypothesis on the table at the moment, and one of those is for sure to extend the 2020 season to the end of January [2021]. We as a team will have to be ready for any circumstance. Moreover I feel like we will have to try to accomodate any option, even if this would mean to have two or three races in January or further in time. What's important at this stage is collaboration. We've decided to give the FIA a free hand. We are also considering to have many back to backs cancelling FP sessions. Those are crucial moments for the sport, for the teams, for the show and for event organizers as well."
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