Binotto "surprised" by suggestion of Vettel tension
Ferrari Formula 1 chief Mattia Binotto has denied there is any added tension in the team's relationship with Sebastian Vettel, feeling "quite surprised" by the suggestion.
Outgoing Ferrari driver Vettel finished seventh in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix after pulling off a risky one-stop strategy to fight back from the fringes of the points.
The TV feed during the race played radio messages from Vettel asking the Ferrari pit wall for guidance on his strategy, with the team appearing to take some time to issue a reply.
It was the second race in a row there had been some exchanges back and forth between Vettel and the engineers regarding his strategy, following some confusion at Silverstone last Sunday.
But Binotto felt it was unfair to label the exchange in Spain as "misunderstandings", instead calling it a strength of Ferrari to discuss its plans openly.
"We prefer to talk openly. Others don't, perhaps so as not to reveal their intentions," Binotto said on Sky Sports Italia.
"We think it's the right way even if we ask questions on both sides. Looking at the last races, the choices made have proved to be correct, so we welcome the discussion and the question marks.
"For us they are open dialogues that lead us to make the right choice".
Binotto was asked in Ferrari's post-race print media call if the communication with Vettel had become more terse, and if that was symptomatic of the relationship between the driver and the team.
"I do not notice what you're mentioning," Binotto said. "At least from our side, we've not changed a different type of tone or what else, so [I'm] quite surprised. It's not the case."
Vettel will leave Ferrari at the end of the season after the team opted against renewing his contract beyond the end of the year, making no offer to the four-time world champion.
Vettel echoed Binotto's comments after the race, saying a lack of communication at times during sessions was not indicative of a deteriorating relationship.
"From my side it's no different to how it has been," Vettel said. "Sometimes you talk on the radio, but we see each other the whole day, so you can talk the whole day.
"You don't need to talk on the radio all the time. Nothing has changed."
Related video
Previous article
Verstappen explains radio outburst over Spanish GP strategy
Next article
Bottas admits championship now "drifting away"
The final throes of Brazil's fleetingly successful F1 team
Emerson Fittipaldi is better remembered for his Formula 1 world championships and Indianapolis 500 successes than for the spell running his eponymous F1 team. Despite a hugely talented roll call of staff, it was a period of internal strife, limited funding and few results - as remembered by Tim Wright.
Why McLaren's expanding agenda will benefit its F1 resurgence
In the 1960s and 1970s, McLaren juggled works entries in F1, sportscars and the Indy 500 while building cars for F3 and F2. Now it’s returning to its roots, expanding into IndyCars and Extreme E while continuing its F1 renaissance. There’s talk of Formula E and WEC entries too. But is this all too much, too soon? Stuart Codling talks to the man in charge.
How Tsunoda plans to achieve his F1 potential
Yuki Tsunoda arrived in grand prix racing amid a whirlwind of hype, which only increased after his first race impressed the biggest wigs in Formula 1. His road since has been rocky and crash-filled, and OLEG KARPOV asks why Red Bull maintains faith in a driver who admits he isn’t really that big a fan of F1?
The danger of reading too much into F1's clickbait radio messages
OPINION: After Lewis Hamilton responded to reports labelling him 'furious' with Mercedes following his heated exchanges over team radio during the Russian Grand Prix, it provided a snapshot on how Formula 1 broadcasting radio snippets can both illuminate and misrepresent the true situation
How F1’s pole winner approach undermines drivers
OPINION: Valtteri Bottas is credited with pole position for the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, despite being beaten in qualifying. This is another example of Formula 1 and the FIA scoring an own goal by forgetting what makes motorsport magic, with the Istanbul race winner also a victim of this in the championship’s recent history
Turkish Grand Prix driver ratings
On a day that the number two Mercedes enjoyed a rare day in the sun, the Turkish Grand Prix produced several standout drives - not least from a driver who has hit a purple patch of late
The hidden factors that thwarted Hamilton's bid for Turkey glory
Starting 11th after his engine change grid penalty, Lewis Hamilton faced a tough task to repeat his Turkish Grand Prix heroics of 2020 - despite making strong early progress in the wet. Instead, his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas broke through for a first win of the year to mitigate Max Verstappen re-taking the points lead
How pitstops evolved into an F1 art form
A Formula 1 pitstop is a rapid-fire blend of high technology and human performance. PAT SYMONDS describes how the science of margin gains makes stops so quick
