Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto says he remains positive about Ferrari's and Charles Leclerc's title chances, despite a significant setback at last weekend's French Grand Prix. Leclerc had been leading in Paul Ricard when he spun out of the race under no pressure, gifting the win to title rival Max Verstappen, who now has a commanding 63-point lead over the Monegasque in the Drivers' Championship. Leclerc's mishap in France was the latest in a series of reliability issues, questionable strategy calls and driver errors that have plagued Ferrari throughout the 2022 season, but speaking after the race, Binotto sought to accentuate the positive. "What I said to Charles [after the French Grand Prix is that] things are more complicated but not impossible, and simply we will enjoy more in the case that we can turn it into a victory at the end," Binotto told media including RacingNews365.com . "We need to stay focused in each single race. If I look back at the last races, we always had great potential, [but] it didn't turn into the best results in terms of championship and points. "But [there's] no reason why in the next 10 races, that will not happen. So the potential is there. The drivers are fantastic. I'm pretty positive."
Binotto not counting on Red Bull misfortune
Discussing how to close the widening gap between Ferrari and Red Bull, Binotto added that he was focused on ensuring the Scuderia maximised their points haul each weekend, rather than looking for any potential slip-ups at Red Bull. "I'm not counting points. If you asked me before France what was the gap to Red Bull or Max, I couldn't answer you because I'm not looking," said Binotto. "What we are focused on is trying to go at each single race and get the maximum results from it, and it didn't happen in Paul Ricard. "Again, I think we're already focused on Hungary going there for a 1-2. Each single race counts as much as the others. "At the end of the season we will do the sum. Let's see where we are. What's more important to see in France was, once again, the good package. "There is no reason why not to win 10 races from now to the end. That is the way to look at it positively. I like to be positive and to stay optimistic. "Could something happen to Max and to Red Bull? It already happened to them as it happened to us. Maybe it happens as well. "But I'm not counting on it. I think we need to be focused on ourselves and do the best."
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