In the round-up: Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says they still haven’t got to the bottom of the reasons for their very poor pace at the Circuit of the Americas.
What they say
Binotto was asked why Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc were more competitive at Interlagos after struggling at the previous round:[Brazil] was similar to a Mexico situation, the previous races. We are still lacking a bit of pace in the race, not much, but certainly what’s required to make sure that we stay ahead.
I think our race was certainly not bad. Sebastian was a comfortable third, was faster than a Mercedes, Bottas, and another Red Bull which is Albon. Charles, from 14th, would have been on the podium eventually. So I think the race certainly was OK.
Now Austin has been certainly an exception so far. A bad race for us, not in continuity with all the others. What happened there not too clear yet to us. But certainly the car balance was not right. The drivers got in the race difficulty in putting energy into the tyres on the lap. So it’s again set-up/tyres related.
We had some actions from there, but that’s something we are [keeping] within the team, a specific car situation.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Where did we put it again?
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/Karting1News/status/1197640686742495233
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
'I love racing but don't fear retirement' - Hamilton on a tough season and a 'complex life' (BBC)
"I thought to myself: 'The cars are still unsafe.' Particularly lower down the ranks it's probably even less safe than it is for us."
Fuel legality push intensifies with extra sensor (Autosport)
"The command for an additional sensor next year completes a trio of recent technical directives from the FIA that have related to the potential exploitation of the rules for performance gains, and been issued amid major scrutiny over Ferrari's engine."
Veekay, Askew latest from successful Road to Indy pipeline to graduate to IndyCar (IndyCar)
"So we saw, it's no shocker, I mean what Colton Herta did this year (two wins and two poles as a rookie) was nothing short of amazing and these guys come from exactly the same background."
Aitekn: 'To stand in front of my home crowd was unreal' (F2)
"If there is half a chance at your home race, you have got to take it. I might never get the chance to win at Silverstone again, with motorsport being the way it is. So, I went for it and it was like ‘ohh, that’s perfect.’"
FIA Girls On Track will be first event of its kind in the Middle East (Formula E)
"Following successful events at the Mexico City and Berlin E-Prix earlier this year, the event is set to continue at the Diriyah E-Prix on the 21st and 22nd November, in what will be the first event promoting gender equality in motorsport in the Middle East."
Speeding to the top (Fitzwilliam College)
"McLaren were the first ones who gave me an opportunity after I left Cambridge. They saw me as quite unique, as a driver who has studied engineering. Not many drivers have studied to that level."
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Comment of the day
Was Gasly’s problem at Red Bull really “pressure”, as Christian Horner says?
Apparently the operating window for the Red Bull is very narrow, its a thoroughbred, whereas you can hustle the Toro Rosso and it wont complain too much. The Red Bull will give you more if you get it in that window but it takes exacting handling.
I think the pressure thing is over done. F1 is pressure, if he messed up at Toro Rosso he is out of F1. That is big pressure also.
Tony Mansell
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Clare Msj, Dane, Rachel and Richard!
If you want a birthday shout-out tell us when yours is via the contact form or adding to the list here.
Gabriel (@naylamp)
22nd November 2019, 1:41
I grew up not liking McLaren (ir used to be Ferrari’s main rival) but nowadays it’s no longer the case. Don’t know if that’s because of their pilots (quite likeable both of them), car color (that orange is sick), social media, but I enjoy when they get good results.
Selbbin (@selbbin)
22nd November 2019, 2:53
I’m a long time McLaren die-hard but I understand why they were disliked by many. They were the main rival to Ferrari for a long time (a fan favourite), with a clinical corporate culture under Dennis and Whitmarsh (and, to an extent, Mercedes) along with drab colours and super serious drivers that put many people off. However, in the last decade Ferrari has become more corporate and dull, with super serious drivers and a media allergy (which is improving, granted). Meanwhile at McLaren, with Ron Dennis leaving and years of struggle having checked their old Hubris they’ve created a more youthful, vibrant, passionate vibe in the team, helped along massively by how the drivers interact with the media along with the switch from dull liveries to the striking Papaya. It really is a new era.
Gabriel (@naylamp)
22nd November 2019, 3:24
+1. Hopefully next year Renault gives him a decent PU so they can be in the mix for podiums or victories.
Urvaksh (@thedoctor03)
22nd November 2019, 6:00
Agree with both of you fully
Bobbie
22nd November 2019, 9:41
Love the papaya but I wouldn’t say the old red and chrome vodafone livery was dull. Was one on my favourites!
Selbbin (@selbbin)
25th November 2019, 22:45
To be honest, I liked it myself. But I did hear people say it was very serious looking. Which is fine as they were winning races and fighting for the championship. Papaya, along with the branding, seems more fun.
David BR (@david-br)
22nd November 2019, 17:19
@selbbin Nicely argued.
knightameer (@knightameer)
22nd November 2019, 7:02
Ferrari being Ferrari, they will know the answer to Austin issues by next year’s summer break.
Chaitanya
22nd November 2019, 11:31
And by the time US GP rolls on they would have forgotten the answer.
AlexS
22nd November 2019, 20:01
Notice the phrases that Binotto employs, They are the words of a defeated man. He is pretty happy being in front of Bottas and Albon.
Jere (@jerejj)
22nd November 2019, 8:02
I thoroughly agree with the COTD. Yes, there is more pressure for success at Red Bull Racing than there is at Toro Rosso, but in the end, it’s worth it. He can’t stay at STR forever, so unless he gets a re-promotion to the senior team, he has to leave the Red Bull group for good to have a chance in getting back to a winning team. The RB15 indeed has seemed to have a narrower operating-window than the STR14, but still, Albon took less time to get used to the car than Gasly did, which could mean that his driving-style is more aligned with that of Max, which should also bode well for next season.
”Charles, from 14th, would have been on the podium eventually. So I think the race certainly was OK.”
– He would’ve had to get past Albon, though, and that wouldn’t have necessarily been a given.
The Mclaren-tweet, though.
Carsten Nielsen (@carstenb)
22nd November 2019, 8:48
Normally not posting – just reading. However – on the subject of McLaren – I have to say that I’m also taking to the team. During the Ron Dennis era I really got to hate the team, the Ron-speak really threw me off. I’ll give him that he took the company to a completely different level. Being a Ferrari “fan” (as hard as that might be…) I just couldn’t stand hearing from Ron. But over the last “few” years I started feeling bad for the team, completely loose their way. The timing of their Honda adventure was terrible, I understand that they tried, but clash of McLaren and Honda cultures really didn’t work. And now RedBull is harvesting the result of the seeds planted by McLaren. The amount of know-how and skill never did translate into results. Now they seem to be finding their way back and have shed a bit of the dull image. Driver pairing is quite OK, they’re on their way back by putting in the hard work.
The video posted on Twitter really made me crack up. Full marks for self ironi.
Only Facts!
22nd November 2019, 9:17
That comment from Binotto…”Charles would have been on the podium”….
It says a lot. Inside his head that phrase ended like “if Seb was the experienced and calm 4x WDC he should be”.
But instead he finished it with “eventually”. Honestly… Obviously…(something in German)…
Joao (@johnmilk)
22nd November 2019, 11:38
Has McLaren won a championship?
Is a 3rd place behind a Toro Rosso justification for so much celebration?
Yes, I sound loke Ron Dennis, but feels bit wrong doesn’t it?
Selbbin (@selbbin)
25th November 2019, 23:23
After the last 5 or so years of hell, F yeah!
Gabriel (@naylamp)
22nd November 2019, 12:25
you must be fun at parties.