The first interview with Mattia Binotto gives us insight into the thoughts of the new head of Audi in F1, after a long career at Ferrari where he climbed all the ranks to become team principal of the Scuderia.
“I missed racing, I missed the concept of a team. But I accepted to return only because I’m starting from a completely blank slate. It’s the allure of the challenge.”
Mattia Binotto’s life at 54 is restarting with an adventure that might seem impossible… “With Ferrari, we’re talking about different realities, the standings say so too. The difference is huge, in everything, from the size to the resources. But I find many similarities with the Ferrari of my early days, back in 1995. A company where everything had to be built or rebuilt. At that time, beyond reorganizing departments and methods, we had to train people to win. Instill the mentality that we’re not here just to participate.”
Mattia missed the competition: “Having the desire to start again, the only challenge that was attractive to me was Audi’s, the most ambitious. It wouldn’t have made sense to join a team that already works. Here, instead, I can build, reliving part of my past, and that’s what makes it fascinating.”
The man from Reggio Emilia has taken on a very complex challenge, and some believe he was called too late… “We are at the start of the climb, Everest is ahead, and for now, we only see the base. We are deciding which side to climb, it’s important to set a course. Compared to our rivals, we have around 400 fewer people, and we need to add them to compete at the same level: you don’t find them in two days, and not necessarily in F1. Our choice is to invest in young people.”
It was inevitable that he was asked about Adrian Newey: “Certainly, he changes the internal balance. Adrian brings added value, but he needs to be managed within the team. He can be a winning factor.”
Mattia Binotto has no doubts about who will win the 2024 titles: “Max Verstappen will take the drivers’ title, McLaren the constructors’.” And when will it be Audi’s turn? “Other teams took years to reach the top. Todt arrived at Maranello in 1993, and the first constructors’ title came in 1999. The same for Mercedes. It takes 5-7 years, we expect to be able to compete in 2030.”
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