Binotto: 'You need two good drivers to win the championship'

Ferrari has had a line up without a world champion since last year for the first time since early 2007. That changed quickly after Kimi Raikkonen became world champion that same year. Mattia Binotto still has no regrets about his choice of two young drivers.

Leclerc traded Sauber for Ferrari after one season in 2019. The Monegasque found himself without wins, podiums or pole positions alongside four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. Leclerc drove a good first season in red and managed to narrowly beat Vettel in the drivers' standings. Carlos Sainz already had the necessary experience at Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren, but was still young when he was appointed to Ferrari in 2021.

"I'm very happy with the line up we've got. Pretty happy," Binotto let it be known at the FIA press conference. "They're young, true, but they are having good experience as well." The Italian is happy that Ferrari can now look beyond the short term and says the duo will come up with the right feedback.

In 2022, Ferrari looks to have a shot at the title. Leclerc started strongly this season, but has since lost the lead to Max Verstappen. "A bit more difficult for Carlos, but he will get there very soon, I'm pretty sure. And I think that as well to try to win Constructors’ Championships you need to have two good drivers, which we've got."

Both drivers are contracted to Ferrari for a longer period of time, something that can be tricky later on Binotto knows. The teams, Formula 1 and the FIA are discussing possible salary caps to reduce costs. Binotto says that it could take some time before this actually happens. "The reason for that is we already have contracts in place, and we cannot simply breach them," he said.