Ferrari launched their spectacular looking F1-75 today with great expectations, team boss Mattia Binotto declaring his team are ready to return to legendary status.
Much has been hinged on this season, as the Formula 1 giant awakens from a slumber that has seen them winless since 2019 and without tiles since 2008 when Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen to claim that last constructors’ title that has remained elusive since then
The fact that Binotto is seeking to reignite the flame that blew so bright at the start of this century, is an acknowledgement that the flame had been doused. Fair play to him for the admission.
But it is a new dawn and the past forgotten as the F1-75 will no doubt galvanise the long-suffering Tifosi to back their team with fine talents Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz sure to deliver provided the car is good.
And with over two years in the making, while their main rivals Mercedes and Red Bul tussled it out for top honours, resources severely divided between the gruelling 2021 campaign and the 2022 project. Ferrari had no such issues, therefore this car has to be good.
It’s finally here ?
Introducing our 2022 fighter, F1-75 ?#essereFerrari ? pic.twitter.com/v6Uw8YE87q
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 17, 2022
Binotto: We know that expectations are high and we are ready to go up against our opponents
For now, Binotto is talking a good fight: “I would like the F1-75 to be the car that allows our fans to once again be proud of Ferrari. Our goal is to reignite the Prancing Horse legend and we can only do that by winning again. That will require a fast car and two great drivers and we have them.
“The F1-75 is the expression of the talent, commitment and passion of each and every one of us. It is the end result of the work of a team that, like never before, has tackled the task with a new spirit and approach, pushing to the maximum in terms of innovation of every component, every detail, every solution.
“Striving to be innovative gave us an incredible boost in our daily work, on the way to producing this car. I am proud of the work that has gone into designing the F1-75.”
The stakes are extremely high for Binotto, his People and the People’s Team
“We know that expectations are high and we are ready to go up against our opponents. That’s the best part of this challenge and it’s what makes our work so fascinating,” added 52-year-old Binotto, entering his fourth year as team principal of the sport’s most famous team…
How Ferrari deal and overcome the challenges this season, where there will be absolutely nowhere to hide, all hinges on one thing: Will the F1-75 be a race winner and title contender?
No less will not be palatable for the legion of fans that wear Red on Grand Prix weekends, even less so for the two Charlies who are ripe title contenders and may signal the end of the current Ferrari F1 team leadership as we know it. If the new car tocks all the boxes, of course, all will be forgiven.