Ferrari adamant Haas not 'a junior team' despite influx of staff

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has reiterated Haas will remain independent from the Scuderia despite an increased presence from Maranello at the American outfit.

For 2021, Simone Resta will lead the staff migration between the two teams leading to speculation Ferrari is aiming to create a 'junior team' akin to the Red Bull-AlphaTauri set-up.

Binotto, however, has ruled out such a move and insisted the relocation of staff is led by the restrictions imposed via the impending budget cap.

"The relationship with Haas - I suppose they are customers - I think that is most straightforward and obvious," he said. "We are supplying them the gearbox and power unit for the next seasons as we did in the past.

"It is a long time we have been supplying them, it is a team we know very well. What's happening more in the future, simply, I think that some of our people, a few people, will join that team.

"I think that is a great opportunity for them. It is a great opportunity because I think by doing that they can reinforce the organisation, technical organisation.

"So it is something that was necessary for us because we had to reduce our organisation to fulfil the limitations of the budget cap."

Whilst the budget cap restrictions have provided a headache for the Ferrari hierarchy given the size of the organisation, Binotto has revealed his delight that staff members can be placed at Haas and are not free for other teams to sign.

"Haas is a full independent team compared to Ferrari," he added. "It is not a junior team and we are not exchanging information beyond what is possible by the regulations.

"It is completely different organisation compared to Ferrari but where, today, I have to choose to reduce my organisation, I am certainly happy to know those guys are joining Haas' team and reinforcing their team rather than simply being on the market and available to whatever other teams.

"That is certainly the way we are looking at the collaborations."

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