Ferrari "only focused" on 2022 despite positive start - Binotto

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has claimed the team is "only focused" on 2022 despite a strong start to its current campaign.

The Scuderia has enjoyed a strong start to the season with a double points finish in Bahrain and both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz involved in a battle for the podium with McLaren driver Lando Norris at Imola.

Despite the early signs of promise as Ferrari attempts to make up for a lacklustre 2020, Binotto has insisted the 'top priority' is getting on top of next year's radical aerodynamic changes.

“I think the car for 2021 is where we expected, the correlation with our data is great," said Binotto. "Is it time to switch to 2022? We already switched from January.

“The team is only focussed on next year. We will have still some development on ’21 but that is not our priority.”

Over the winter, Binotto suggested the goal for the season would be to climb back to third place in the constructors' standings and, with Ferrari fourth after two races, the Italian is pleased with the early pace of his two drivers.

"I think I can confirm that Mercedes and Red Bull are still ahead. I don’t think that can be a surprise. The gap was so big last year," he added.

“I am somehow already happy with what we have managed to progress but I think it will be a tight battle with McLaren for the third place.

“Is that our objective for the season? I think our objectives are often said, it is to still prove that we can progress in the areas. If we can do it, it is really a mentality and I think we will only see at the end what is the result.

“But it is more important to me to show we are capable of racing and of that, we have got a good starting point.”

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Jos Verstappen retires after major rally crash

• 41 minutes ago

Fernando Alonso opens up on fatherhood as he escapes Aston Martin woes

• 1 hour ago

Max Verstappen and Red Bull comeback on the cards claims F1 boss

• 2 hours ago

F1 News Today: Fernando Alonso talks retirement, Christian Horner meets Honda chief

• 3 hours ago

The F1 star who refused to drive without the Pope in his car

• Yesterday 22:42

Max Verstappen’s ‘second father’ opens up on Jos Verstappen’s parenting techniques

• Yesterday 21:57