On Tuesday, the Ferrari Formula 1 team announced that it was accepting the resignation of Mattia Binotto. Charles Leclerc was quick to react to the announcement that his team principal was leaving, giving praise to his former boss. A surprise to some considering the problems this season between Leclerc and Binotto.

After 28 years with Ferrari, Mattia Binotto will leave the Maranello-based manufacturer at the end of this year after resigning. The driver from Monaco, Charles Leclerc, was known to have a strong bond with the team but it was said that the relationship between Binotto and Leclerc was beyond help this summer with neither willing to talk to the other since Silverstone.

A failed championship attempt

This year, despite a promising season start, the Monegasque did not succeed in transforming early good results into a championship bid, quickly overtaken by the performance of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. Several strategic errors were at fault at Ferrari, which did not allow Charles Leclerc to match his Dutch rival. The Ferrari pair came to blows after the British Grand Prix when strategy calls from the pit wall cost Leclerc his chance of a win.

After four years as team principal, Mattia Binotto has never succeeded in bringing the Scuderia back to the top and has therefore resigned. The team said the process of identifying a new team principal should be finalised early next year.

Despite the issues, Leclerc thanks Binotto

Speaking in Italian on Instagram, Charles Leclerc thanked Binotto:

“Thanks for everything Mattia. We have spent four very intense years together, full of great satisfaction and also, inevitably, moments that have tested us.”

“My esteem and respect for you has never diminished and we have worked with total dedication to achieve the same goals. Good luck with everything.”

Charles Leclerc finishes the 2022 season in second place in the drivers’ standings, 142 points behind Max Verstappen.