Binotto: 'New Ferrari update has closed the gap to Red Bull'

Mattia Binotto believes Ferrari have closed the gap to Red Bull Racing thanks to a new update. The team is looking strong after winning the last two Grands Prix.

Charles Leclerc's pace was unprecedented at the Austrian Grand Prix. The Monegasque overtook rival Max Verstappen no fewer than three times at the Red Bull Ring. At Silverstone, Carlos Sainz took the win after putting Verstappen under pressure in Canada two weeks earlier.

According to Binotto, the rear wing fitted to Leclerc's car in Canada played a major role in the Italians' recent form. The team was at a disadvantage to Red Bull in terms of straight-line speed, but in Maranello Ferrari have worked hard to improve that. Since the British Grand Prix, Sainz has also been driving with the new rear wing.

Red Bull still has a small advantage

"With that new rear wing I think we simply reduced the gap. I think they still have got a slight advantage, but very little or negligible, and while in terms of power we are very close. Then it’s only about the grip limited in the corners where we can make the difference", the team boss is quoted by Racer.com.

Binotto also praises his two drivers. "I think we have been faster not only because of the car but also the two drivers." Sainz crashed out again in Austria due to reliability problems. Had it not been for his DNF, Ferrari could have been on the podium with a one-two finish.