Former Ferrari chairman delivers ‘quite alarming’ verdict for the Tifosi

The Maranello outfit has established itself as Mercedes’ closest challenger in this new regulatory era, securing two consecutive podiums but still showing a significant gap to the W17.

Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Montezemolo was rather blunt in his assessment: “I’m sorry, but at least from what we’ve seen at the start of the season, it looks like they have a good car, just not one capable of fighting for the title.

He also added: “The gap is quite alarming, but the chasing teams can still improve and there will be long breaks. So perhaps it’s not as clear-cut as it seems.”

Speaking to L’Equipe, Binotto reflected on the challenge of taking over a relatively modest operation in Sauber, with the clear ambition of turning it into a race-winning — and ultimately title-winning — team within five years. In doing so, he repeatedly referenced Ferrari, though not in a particularly flattering light.

Binotto explained that the path to success is built on structure and clarity, stressing the importance of defining objectives and systematically working towards them. He contrasted this with his experience at Ferrari, where, in his view, processes were lacking and decisions were often based on trial rather than a clearly defined plan.

Most strikingly, Binotto dismissed the idea of using Ferrari as a benchmark for success, pointing out their lack of titles in recent years and making it clear that Audi’s focus is solely on building a winning project of its own.