Ferrari Formula 1 boss Mattia Binotto says he still enjoys the full support of his superiors after the team’s worst season in 40 years and is aiming for a return to the top three next year.
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The oldest and most successful team in the sport finished sixth overall without a race win in the 2020 constructors’ championship.
Board chairman Louis Camilleri, a strong supporter of Binotto, announced his surprise resignation last week, with chairman John Elkann temporarily taking over the office.
Binotto told reporters on Friday, in a video call replacing the traditional pre-Christmas media dinner in Maranello due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that he had “the full confidence and support” of Elkann and Vice President Piero Ferrari.
“There are no changes in our plans, no changes in our future,” he said when asked how Camillini’s departure could affect the team.
However, he realized that his job could be at risk without apparent progress.
“I know that my time is certainly not infinite,” he added. “I’m pretty aware that … we have to do well as a team and myself and the headmaster to do well in the next few seasons.”
Binotto said Ferrari can hope for a much better year in 2021, even if the gap to champions Mercedes is still too big.
“I’m pretty sure this year will make us stronger for the future,” he said.
“Third place is not impossible. I think that should be our minimum goal for next season.”
Binotto said it wasn’t easy, but Ferrari had made progress on a new engine that ran well on the dyno and showed significant improvements.
“I think we will be competitive again as an engine. We will not be the lowest in the field,” he said.
Ferrari has a new driver line-up next year. Carlos Sainz changes from McLaren next to the Monegasque Charles Leclerc, while the four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel has left.
Sainz spent his first day in Ferrari Red at the factory on Friday, which Binotto said was more of a tourist tour before the real work begins in the New Year.
“It’s a special day for me that I will probably never forget,” said the Spaniard.
The 2021 car will be called SF21, Binotto said. This year’s was the SF1000, a tribute to the team’s 1000th Grand Prix of the World Championship that year.
