Ferrari Rejects "speculation" On Binotto's Future Team Responsibility

Ferrari have dismissed reports that Mattia Binotto’s future is in doubt following articles suggesting the team principal is set to be replaced.

“Regarding speculation in certain media regarding the position of Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto, Ferrari says these rumors are completely unfounded,” it said in a statement.

The statement followed a report by Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that suggested Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur would replace Binotto. Vasseur said he was approached by Ferrari CEO John Elkann last year.

Binotto replaced Maurizio Arrivabene as Ferrari team principal in January 2019. The 53-year-old has been with Ferrari since 1995 and held the role of technical director before taking over the team.

Ferrari recorded three wins and nine pole positions in their first season under Binotto. However, the FIA launched an investigation into their power unit design, which led to a private deal in early 2020.

The team flopped badly that year, with straight line speed performance being particularly poor. He finished 6th in the Construction Championship. It’s the worst it’s been in 40 years.

But Ferrari made a spectacular comeback in 2021 to finish third in the standings. It has also plowed its development resources into the new 2022 technical regulations from the outset, rewarding it with two wins from the first three races this season.

However, a combination of reliability problems, questionable race tactics and driver mistakes have seen them lead the way in the championship, with Charles Leclerc being replaced in the drivers’ standings by Max Verstappen.

There will be no championship silverware for the team this year, and they are in danger of losing second place to Mercedes heading into the final race of the season.

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