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Binotto: I feel really ashamed F1 didn't change back to 2018 tyres

Binotto: I feel really ashamed F1 didn't change back to 2018 tyres

01-07-2019 11:42
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Bobby Vincent

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has admitted he is "really ashamed" that other Formula 1 teams did not make the choice to revert back to last season's Pirelli tyre compounds when given the opportunity to vote.

Ferrari supported the proposal when all the teams were allowed to vote on the matter, and the result was 5:5 - with a majority of seven votes from different teams was needed to ensure they did switch back to last season's tyre compounds.

Binotto was talking after the Austrian Grand Prix, where Mercedes struggled, and the Ferrari team principal said the closeness of the front three teams was enjoyable and if they had voted to bring last year's tyres back - it would be even closer.

"Obviously today it has been a good battle," Binotto said to RaceFans. "Normally, you've got good battles when you do not have a car which is over-performing, so this weekend has been great in that respect.

"(But) I think we missed a great opportunity this weekend on the tyres decision. I think the entire F1, we should have done something. Sometimes we are discussing a lot and we are not acting.

"So I still feel really ashamed that we didn't change the specification of tyres for the rest of the season because that would have been a great opportunity to somehow try to close the field."