Ferrari 'better prepared' for F1 title bid than 2017/18

Ferrari is “better prepared” to fight for this year’s Formula 1 world championship than its two previous title bids in 2017 and 2018, believes team principal Mattia Binotto.

After the opening two races of the 2022 season, Ferrari heads both championships having won the season opener in Bahrain and had both of its cars finish on the podium at each round.

It marks a turnaround in form for the Italian team following two winless campaigns, but it is wary of how its last two title challenges ended in failure.

While there is pressure on the team to end its long wait for a world title, Binotto insists Ferrari is now more resolute to mount a sustained challenge in 2022.

“I think keeping up the level of development through the season is always a challenge, not only for us but all the teams,” Binotto said, as quoted by Motorsport Week.

“It is true that our competitors are very strong in that and proved to be very strong, while as Ferrari the last two opportunities we had [in] 2017 and 2018 we lost a bit of ground through development.

“Since then as for the car design we have improved our tools, which are wind tunnel, methodologies, process and simulator.

“I think today we are much better prepared compared to the past to do the proper job as well in development.

“We need as well to add compared to the time today we have budget cap which will influence the rate of development, and I think that’s a key point and a key element.

“My concern is we need to make sure we have got the right policy on that as it can be a game-changer in the fight for development.”

Charles Leclerc is leading the drivers’ standings for the first time in his F1 career after his victory in Bahrain and a second place last time out in Saudi Arabia.

The Monegasque