Mattia Binotto, the team principal for Ferrari, has resigned and will depart his position at the end of December. It is rumored that Fred Vasseur, the current principal of Alfa Romeo, will succeed Binotto, however, Ferrari has merely confirmed that a new principal will be chosen in the new year.
After four seasons as team principal, Binotto is said to have lost the confidence of Ferrari president John Elkann after a season in which the team was left looking helpless and, at times, incompetent by a dominant Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
Binotto expressed sadness about his decision to end his collaboration with Ferrari.
“I am leaving a company that I have loved for the past 28 years with the calm that comes from knowing I have made every attempt to accomplish the goals established. I leave a cohesive and expanding team.
I wish the best of luck in the future to a formidable group that is, without a doubt, capable of achieving the highest ambitions. I believe it is appropriate to take this step at this time, despite how difficult it has been for me.
Since assuming the position in 2019, Binotto has failed to improve Ferrari’s fortunes. The team has not won a constructors’ or drivers’ championship since 2008 and 2007 respectively.
After a successful first year, the 53-year-old oversaw a dismal 2020 season in which the car was severely lacking in power, and difficult to drive, and the team placed sixth, their worst season since 1980 when they finished 10th.
Initial indications were that Ferrari would emerge as a front-runner in the wake of this year’s new regulations, on which much emphasis was spent. Charles Leclerc won two of the first three races in a highly competitive vehicle.
Nonetheless, as the season proceeded and Red Bull out developed Scuderia, the team suffered a series of failures in terms of reliability, strategy, and from drivers Leclerc and Sainz.
Red Bull won the manufacturers’ championship with the same ease that Verstappen won the driver’s championship. Although they finished second, Ferrari trailed Red Bull by 205 points and was eliminated from title contention before the middle of the season.
Elkann defended Binotto earlier in the season at the Italian Grand Prix but emphasized that his team must do better.
“We have tremendous faith in Mattia Binotto and are grateful for everything he and all of our engineers have accomplished,” he said. “However, there is no question that the work in Maranello, the garage, the pit wall, and behind the wheel must be improved.”
After Italy, the team’s struggles continued, as they were unable to seriously contend for victories.
Several weeks earlier, rumors circulated that Binotto might be fired, but Ferrari refuted them, and during the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Binotto stated he still had Elkann’s complete support. Binotto, a team stalwart for more than 25 years, is no longer affiliated with Ferrari.
Binotto studied mechanical engineering in college and specialized in automobiles and engines for his master’s degree. In 1995, he was allowed to join the Scuderia as a graduate and rose through the ranks, especially during the period in which the Scuderia won six consecutive constructors’ championships.
In 2015, he was put in control of the engine, and his management was key in enhancing its performance and igniting the team’s comeback to competitiveness. In 2016, he became chief technical officer, and in 2019, he became principal.
The team he inherited from Maurizio Arrivabene was in dire need of a reset at the time. They had been title contenders in 2017 and 2018, but both years were unsuccessful.
Binotto desired to create an entirely new team from scratch, similar to what Jean Todt did during Michael Schumacher’s tremendous success with Scuderia. Binotto stated in 2021, “I always tell my team that it’s more vital to be Ferrari than to win.” Because victory will be a natural result.
If we are capable of being Ferrari and doing well, victory will follow.” But the triumphs failed to materialize, and Binotto ran out of time; having a Ferrari was simply not enough.
