Ferrari Formula 1 team boss Mattia Binotto will leave his role at the end of the year. The team is currently looking for a replacement, expected to be finalised in the new year.
- Binotto parts ways with Ferrari after 28 years
- No clear replacement decided
Binotto steps down as Ferrari F1 boss: What went wrong
Binotto was at the helm of what seemed like the Scuderia's revival earlier this year, with Charles Leclerc fighting eventual runaway winner Max Verstappen for early race wins.
Yet, a disappointing second half of the season had Ferrari finish over 200 points off Red Bull Racing in the constructors' championship standings – and sitting just 39 points above third-placed Mercedes-AMG, which mustered only one victory. Ferrari’s season was especially marred by a series of high-profile strategy errors.
“With the regret that this entails, I have decided to conclude my collaboration with Ferrari," said Binotto, who joined the Italian squad in 1994.
"I'm leaving a company that I love, which I have been part of for 28 years, with the serenity that comes from the conviction that I have made every effort to achieve the objectives set.
"I leave a united and growing team. A strong team ready, I’m sure, to achieve the highest goals, to which I wish all the best for the future. I think it's right to take this step at this time, as hard as this decision has been for me.”
Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said: “I would like to thank Mattia for his many great contributions over 28 years with Ferrari and particularly for leading the team back to a position of competitiveness during this past year. As a result, we're in a strong position to renew our challenge, above all for our amazing fans around the world, to win the ultimate prize in motorsport.”
Who will replace Binotto at Ferrari?
Earlier this year, there were rumours doing the rounds that Ferrari was looking to replace Binotto with Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur. However, the team was quick to shoot down those rumours.
Now, the team has announced that a replacement will only be announced at the start of 2023. “The process is underway to identify Scuderia Ferrari’s new team principal and is expected to be finalised in the new year,” an official statement says.
Binotto will hold the official position till December 2023, but he leaves the team during a key period of development for the 2023 car.
Also see:
2023 F1 grid: Here’s the confirmed driver line-up