According to Binotto, Ferrari’s trust-building US GP has proven that they have made a “big step forward” with the drive unit

After implementing a major engine upgrade for Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc earlier this season, Ferrari scored double points at the Circuit of The Americas – which team boss Mattia Binotto sees as proof that the Scuderia’s new engine is paying off.

Ferrari delivered a top performance in midfield on Sunday when Leclerc finished fourth – more than 20 seconds ahead of McLaren’s fifth-placed Daniel Ricciardo – and Sainz settled for seventh after a slow second pit stop cost him a chance to cross the finish line behind Leclerc come and he lost in the end to Valtteri Bottas and Ricciardo. Regardless of this, Binotto rated this result as a major plus point for the engine department.

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“If you look at it all this season, McLaren has always been very competitive in middle and fast corners and that’s the case here in Austin too. But I think if I look at the overall performance this weekend, we were ahead of them, ”said Binotto after the race in Austin.

“That was [evident] in qualifying and Charles… landed 25 seconds ahead of Ricciardo. In general, we were clearly fastest on the overall lap this weekend. So I think it’s a shame that Carlos and Charles weren’t before the end of the race. “

P4 Leclerc satisfied with a “very, very positive” race at the US GP

When asked what difference Ferrari’s engine has made in the US, Binotto added: “The power is always available on the straight, so you can benefit from it at the beginning and at the end of the straight. I think the way we can quantify, if we look at this weekend, we’re going at maximum downforce, but we’re kind of getting everyone else’s speed – or almost everyone else’s speed.

“If you think about the past year, it’s a really big step forward. We still know that there is still a void in the best engine today, but we believe that void is not as dramatic … ”

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With Mexico next, another stretch that requires high downforce and a strong, reliable high-altitude drive unit, Binotto said the US GP field test of the Ferrari PU bodes well for Mexico City – especially since it is only 3.5 Points behind McLaren are with five races remaining.

“It is on paper [COTA] was not a track that obviously suited our car, so I’m happy about the progress we’ve seen in the last few races, which were certainly supported by the Power Unit in qualifying and in the race, and that also gives me confidence for the next Run. ” he added.