“There is a big difference”: Mattia Binotto refuses to draw comparisons between Gilles Villeneuve and Charles Leclerc
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Scuderia Ferrai Team Principal Mattia Binotto is an F1 veteran who has been in the sport for a long time. While he has seen the rise of Formula 1 legends like Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen with his own eyes, Binotto has also been a crucial part behind the success of more recent drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc in their Ferrari. Binotto also has tales to share about previous Ferrari racers like Gilles Villeneuve whose death 40 years ago is still discussed to this day because he was one of the greatest drivers of all time.
Canadian racer Gilles Villeneuve went to Ferrari with only one target in his mind–to win races. In his six years in the motorsport business, Villeneuve became famous for his all-or-nothing style of racing as he wanted to give it his all for the sport. Villeneuve’s death at the age of 32, after a horrifying accident in Belgium, has been discussed in a recent documentary called ‘L’Aviatore’. And during the premiere of the movie, Mattia Binotto talked about comparing Villeneuve with current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
Mattia Binotto has been witness to Villeneuve’s rise in the 1970s and Charles Leclerc’s ascent in the recent years. He believes there can be no juxtaposition of the two separate eras of Formula 1, and hence he does not want to compare the two Ferrari drivers with one another.
Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto says comparing Villeneuve with Leclerc would be like “comparing footballers from different eras”
Four decades have passed since Gilles Villeneuve died while racing in the Belgian GP Qualifying Session. Villeneuve’s Ferrari crashed into Jochen Mass’ car, and then he was ejected from his Ferrari due to a sudden impact and he crashed into the catch fencing, dying within days of the incident after he was kept alive on life support for some time.
Current Championship leader and Ferrari talent Charles Leclerc has been seen to give it his all in the first few races of this season, as he has got podium finishes in all but one race till now. While fans compare Lecelrc with Villeneuve for the all-or-nothing attitude, Mattia Binotto doesnot agree with this view. He said, “It would be the same as comparing footballers from different eras. Gilles was a brave driver, always on the limit. Talking about tactics and strategy was pointless with him and Enzo Ferrari fell in love with that.”
But Mattia knows Villeneuve relied on his own intuitions and did not wish to follow others’ words. So, Mattia said, “Compared to today, fortunately I don’t have to manage someone like Gilles.”
The Italian Ferrari Team Boss also stated, “People often compare Gilles with Charles, but there is a big difference in the comparison with now: that is the risk these guys took. Before, an accident could take away their legs and feet. Today, fortunately, safety in Formula 1 has improved dramatically. Ferrari has been very active in this journey. If Gilles had raced in today’s cars, he would still be here. This is also a tribute to Formula 1 and to Ferrari that has always been instrumental in this growth.”
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Riddhi Mondal
(1821 Articles Published)