F1: Ferrari and the delicate renovation of Vettel that opens the door to Sainz

Binotto does not want to repeat the excess of optimism of 2019, while there is already talk of a first offer to renew the German.

Sebastian Vettel got behind the wheel of the SF-1000 on Tuesday to complete the 'filming day', the premiere with which all teams, except Racing Point, have put the systems of their new cars this year to the test. The world four-time champion was the visible face of Ferrari in Montmel on the eve of the official start of the preseason, where Scuderia, unlike 2019, bet on caution.

“It will be a mistake to make the predictions of last year,” Mattia Binotto, team leader, said Monday during his speech on an Italian television show with his pilots. “Last year we were convinced that we were competitive, but when the GP of Australia arrived it was a jug of cold water,” he recalled about that disappointing start-up.

Unlike Mercedes and Red Bull, the first to put their car on the track, a week ago at Silverstone, Ferrari has rushed the deadline until the last day. “We still have many areas where we must grow. Nor can we forget that we have never had such strong rivals,” added Binotto, with the weight of history on his back. No less than 13 seasons without a world title.

“The best couple”

The immense responsibility is shared again between Charles Leclerc and Vettel, whose coexistence in the garage already generated numerous problems in 2019. “They are the best couple in the World Cup, although from time to time we have some other problem,” said Binotto, who You must repeat the balances to, if not content, at least not piss anyone off.

Of course, the innumerable rumors about the future of Vettel, whose contract expires at the end of the season, will preside over the day at Maranello again. In fact, as Leo Turrini reports in the Quotidiano Nazionale, Ferrari has sent a first renewal offer to the German.

For now, Vettel wants to confirm the performance of the SF-1000 and the evolution of the car by 2021, when the expected regulatory revolution will take effect. Among the list of possible substitutes, Turrini quotes Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz and Antonio Giovinazzi, although he also adds that none of these names seems to excite the dome, with Louis Camilleri and John Elkann in the lead.