Budget cap will ‘snap at Red Bull at some stage’

Disappointed to finish 2-3 in Miami, Mattia Binotto says that shows Ferrari’s progress and that he hopes the budget cap “snaps” at Red Bull.

This year’s championship is shaping up to be a two-driver race for the World title, Charles Leclerc taking on defending World Champion Max Verstappen.

But while the Monégasque driver remains top of the standings, Verstappen has eked into his lead in the past two races, taking it from 34 points to just 19.

Leclerc lost eight points to the Red Bull driver at Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix as he was unable to turn his pole position into a race win, the driver overtaken by Verstappen on lap 19.

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His team-mate Carlos Sainz, who started P2 on the grid, also lost a position as he was passed by Verstappen on the opening lap.

Such has been Ferrari’s progress this season that the team was “disappointed” with their 2-3 result.

“Certainly when you are starting with two cars on the front row you are hoping for a better result, for a win,” Binotto explained to F1 TV.

Clinical from Verstappen #MiamiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/HkwmfHQlA2

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“We are disappointed no doubt, but being disappointed with second and third is great. It means the teams and the drivers, and everyone at Ferrari, are no longer happy with a second and third.

“I think that is progress.”

But while Ferrari have been second best to Red Bull in the last two races, Imola and Miami, the Scuderia have opted for a different attack on this season’s development to Red Bull.

While the Milton Keynes squad has already