Binotto: I predict Red Bull will be faster on the straights

Mattia Binotto envisions that Red Bull Racing cars will be faster than Ferrari at Paul Ricard, and perhaps not just on the straights, but the Scuderia boss stressed that the team is trying to find the right compromise in working with settings that specifically target are on Sunday. race.

Mattia Binotto: “Our team got two wins in a row, at Silverstone and at the Red Bull Ring, which is great and shows that we still have a very competitive car. It was very important to achieve this because we also claimed victories in several previous races, but we couldn’t win. It is important to keep pressure on opponents, but at the same time we understand that there is a new challenge and a new battle waiting for us in each subsequent phase.

In yesterday’s practice, Max Verstappen was very fast in a series of laps with a high fuel load, so let’s see how things develop today. We have tried to prepare as best we can, although it is clear that from qualifying onwards the battle will be very sharp.

In Austria we were on a par with Red Bull in terms of speed and because our car accelerated very well at the exit of corners, we were able to overtake. But Paul Ricard is a different type of track, with Red Bull using a new rear wing here, which gives them speed again, so I expect them to be faster than us on the straights. Maybe even in corners.

So now, working with the settings, we are trying to find the most successful compromise so that the car allows drivers to work normally with rubber. We have a long race ahead of us and the weather promises to be very warm, so let’s see whose approach will be optimal.

Speaking about the powerplant change to Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, which will force the Spanish driver to start from the last row, Binotto said: “Overtaking is always very difficult, but Carlos is fine with speed, so he could have a good I think he is now getting ready for effective work this weekend and will try to minimize the losses related to the penalty.