Ferrari is parting ways with Formula 1 team boss Mattia Binotto, according to unanimous media reports. The Italian’s departure has not yet been confirmed, but the first background information has already emerged.
The biggest newspapers in Italy reported in unison on Friday that the 53-year-old Mattia Binotto is about to leave Ferrari. There had already been speculation about a separation around the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Allegedly, the long-time Ferrari employee will be replaced by Frenchman Frederic Vasseur, who has been team boss at Alfa Romeo since 2017. The racing team works closely with Ferrari.
The word from the UK is now that it is Binotto himself who ultimately engineered the split. According to the Daily Mail, Binotto has offered his resignation and in the meantime made his post available.
The decision of the trained engineer is said to have been decisively influenced by the deteriorating relationship with top driver Charles Leclerc. Binotto had lost the Monegasque’s trust, which weakened his position in the team, according to the Daily Mail. His relationship with Ferrari boss John Elkann has also suffered noticeably in recent months.
Binotto says he is “relaxed”
Ferrari finished the Formula 1 season as the second-best team behind Red Bull, but often lost out on better results due to several questionable strategy decisions and technical damage.
As a result, Mattia Binotto came under heavy criticism again and again in the course of the second half of the season. Charles Leclerc still secured the vice world championship title in Abu Dhabi.
Binotto joined the Scuderia in 1995 and served as engine engineer to Michael Schumacher during his Ferrari era. The Swiss later rose to the position of technical director before replacing Maurizio Arrivabene as team boss in early 2019 following a power struggle.
When asked just a few days ago whether he would still be team principal at Ferrari in 2023, Binotto had given an evasive answer:
“It’s not up to me to decide, but I’m pretty relaxed. The reason why I am relaxed is that I always have open, honest and constructive discussions with my bosses and my chairman”.
Thank you Binotto for making life easy for Red Bullin 2002.
Some of that credit should also go to Charles.
But unfortunately it is Binotto who is sacked and Charles goes scot-free!
Good bye and good luck Mattia.
I hope FIA will accommodate you so that you may bring some highly-needed neutrality
to the maFIA.
Let’s sack a young talented driver who made some mistakes under pressure, great idea.
Charles was a nag and whining boy… always has been since he joined and was obviously trying to steal the lights when he partnered Vettel.
You cant ask for team orders (in the case of having Charles take the podium spot that Carlos had in Brazil) just so he takes P2 in the Championship….. this way you lose the trust of Carlos.
Double edged sword, but its the continuous nagging from Charles on the radio.