It was another incredible performance from the Ferrari team on Sunday in Melbourne, as Charles Leclerc masterfully drove his F1-75 to its second win of the season from pole position. But in the other side of the garage, Carlos Sainz had very contrasting fortunes – his unlucky timing with the red flag caused by Fernando Alonso’s crash in qualifying putting his weekend on a downhill route before he spun off and got beached in the gravel in the race.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the race, Mattia Binotto weighed in on Leclerc’s very assured and measured drive to a fourth career win, and explained how Ferrari can’t get complacent this early on in the season, as “each race will be different”:

“Today was great. It is a great satisfaction. Each race can be different but let’s enjoy today! Charles is very focused and driving very well. Last year was important for him and his growth. Today he was very good at tyre management which he has learned through his time here.

“I don’t know if we are unstoppable, each race will be different. Out Tifosi will be there in Imola [at the next race in two weeks], so it will be special. It’s a great emotion. We are very happy and looking forward to it. We are not managing the championship, it’s only three races. This one was great. To win you need to be perfect because it’s very tight. We need to approach each race track to do the best.”

Cheers to a great result Down Under 🇦🇺🍻 #essereFerrari 🔴 #AusGP @Charles_Leclerc @EG00 pic.twitter.com/tlgmRWL5SM

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) April 10, 2022

Although he was satisfied with a win, a DNF for Carlos Sainz was less than ideal for the Spaniard and indeed for Ferrari in their pursuit of a 17th constructors’ world championship. Binotto explained that, even though there is already a big points’ gap between his two drivers, they are still “free to fight” and is certain that Sainz will come back from this stronger:

“They are free to fight,” he said.

“That is important for us. I think for Carlos the situation will improve with both the speed and the pace, it will come back. I will enjoy then, the back and forth for position [between the two].”

“He is certainly disappointed with today and we understand that disappointment,” said Binotto.

Sainz lacked a bit of overall pace in the first two rounds of the season in relation to Leclerc, but seemed to be on a par with the Monegasque this time around, for the relief of Binotto:

“It was important to prove that he was fast again coming here to Australia and he was fast on Friday and again on Saturday morning.

“Then with the qualifying and the race then maybe he has been a bit unlucky. There was a problem with the steering wheel on the grid. These things should not happen but they do.

“But I know Carlos and he will come back and come back pretty strong. I’m just looking forward to Imola now to see his speed again.”