Is team boss Mattia Binotto heading for his Ferrari exit?
Rumors
- GPblog.com
Mattia Binotto was not present at the Interlagos circuit during the weekend before the Brazilian Grand Prix. There are increasing rumours that there are talks within Ferrari about possible replacements for the team boss.
Ferrari has had another dramatic year. At the start of the season, the team was competing with Red Bull Racing for the world title, but after numerous strategic errors and reliability problems, the team has fallen far back. Now the Italians even have to watch out for Mercedes, as the team is getting very close to P2 in the constructors' championship after its double podium in Brazil.
Binotto will be back in Abu Dhabi next weekend to attend a meeting of the Formula 1 committee. Yet the Italian has recently been absent from race weekends more frequently, leading to growing rumours that Binotto is heading for his Ferrari exit. There have been repeated calls that it is time for a restructuring within the team after the numerous mistakes this season.
Binotto's position possibly in jeopardy
Binotto has been Ferrari's team boss since 2019, a position he took over from Maurizio Arrivabene. In his four seasons at the helm, the Italians have won just seven races. According to Leo Turrini, a journalist who has long been closely involved with events in Maranello, Binotto's position could be in jeopardy, as reported by FormulaPassion.it.
There is talk of possible replacements due to errors in reliability and strategy. The mistakes have led to a sudden collapse of title hopes and even a disrupted relationship with Charles Leclerc. The journalist mentions two possible replacements, namely Fred Vasseur, team boss of Alfa Romeo and close friend of Nicolas Todt, Leclerc's manager. Also mentioned is Antonello Coletta, the man responsible for Ferrari's GT successes.
Autohebdo also reports that Binotto could well be heading for his Ferrari exit. The patience of John Elkann, Ferrari's president, has run out. Sources close to Maranello report that it is time for a divorce. The team would like to replace him with someone with a lot of experience. The French medium mentions names such as Vasseur, but also McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl and Ferrari's sporting director Laurent Mekies.