Binotto Talks About Why Sebastian Vettel Not Charles Leclerc, Was the First Man He Met After Monza Race

Ferrari winning at Monza. It’s a special occasion that doesn’t happen very often but it did last year. Seeing the prancing horse team win at the temple of speed is something that’ll make even the most indifferent F1 fan smile. The 2019 Italian Grand Prix brought joy to some and heartbreak for others. While Charles Leclerc was off celebrating his second career win, Sebastian Vettel had yet another difficult race.

Binotto saw Sebastian Vettel right after the Monza race

For team principal Mattia Binotto, it was jubilation overall but a hint of remorse. Binotto recently revealed that he visited Vettel and not Leclerc after the race. While their drivers might not get along completely, Binotto has done a stellar job in holding the team together.

Sebastian Vettel has won at Monza before but never whilst donning the red suit. Winning the Italian Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver provides a sense of liberation and adoration from the fans. Unfortunately, his younger teammate beat him to victory last year.

In what can only be termed as a momentary lapse of concentration, Vettel lost the SF90’s rear while negotiating the Ascari chicane and spun out of contention for the race lead. Seeing his teammate stand on the top step of the podium with thousands cheering him on is sure to have caused some heartache for the 4 times World Champion.

It was Ferrari’s first win at Monza in 9 years but Binotto joined the celebration only after paying Seb a visit. Speaking to Will Buxton on F1’s Youtube channel, Binotto said:

“I went and saw Seb myself, it was the first thing I did”

“I think it was important to stay close to him and I think he was unlucky in the race itself”

“He did a mistake but he was driving fast and recovering eventually, it could have been a great weekend for him as well – a podium”

“[The] first reaction I had was to stay close to Seb, then I went to see Charles”

Binotto also revealed that Vettel was looking forward to the Monza race and hoped to replicate Charles’ win at Spa. Sadly, a win at Monza with Ferrari continues to evade the German driver.