Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has questioned the FIA's race management at the Italian Grand Prix
- Heinrich Griessel
- 14 September 2022
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has criticised the FIA for the anti-climactic manner in which the Italian Grand Prix concluded last weekend.
Daniel Ricciardo's McLaren broke down on Lap 47 of the 53-lap race, which resulted in the safety car being deployed.
Unfortunately the FIA decided to keep the safety car out until the end of the race, and the spectators voiced their displeasure with boisterous boos when Max Verstappen crossed the finish line under safety car conditions.
Technically the race directors followed the rules exactly, but Binotto was not happy with their decision and believes the race could easily have been restarted for the last few laps to give everyone the grandstand finish they wanted.
"A bit disappointed for the ending because I think we could have finished differently the race," Binotto told Sky Sports F1.
"Finishing behind the safety car is never great, not for us, not for F1, [or] for the show.
"I think there was plenty of time for the FIA to act differently. I think they still need more experience and need to do a better job because F1 deserves a better job in that respect."
Binotto's views were echoed by former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, who wrote in his column for Formule1.nl that it was "a really horrible race", and that the FIA's race management was "sub-standard".
