Inside the Ferrari Racing Department in Maranello, in the words of Benedetto Vigna, “everything is working as always”. It would seem like a December not so different from the normal one, with Mattia Binotto still busy in meetings, as the current team principal will respect his commitments in the factory until almost Christmas, even if his last day as Ferrari boss will officially be 12/31, as communicated by the Italian team in the press statement announcing his departure. If it weren’t for the team principal’s resignation accepted by John Elkann, one would believe that not much has changed.
Sources close to the management: “Mattia Binotto’s departure had already been decided for some time.”
In reality, a strong agitation and curiosity hovers among the men of the Ferrari Racing Department and some names circulate. Contrary to what many sources, usually well-informed affirm, others closer to the Management report that the departure of Mattia Binotto had already been defined for some time, according to F1 experts Giuliano Duchessa and Piergiuseppe Donadoni for formu1a.uno.
It is clear that the management has every interest in filtering out certain information, to at least reduce the rumors, very insistent and from many sources (not only in Italy), which would like some difficulty in finding a replacement for the now former Italian-Swiss team principal.
It’s a waiting game. From what is rumoured in Maranello, in addition to the now known Fres Vasseur solution which however continues not to fully convince, even if it still remains the most probable at this stage, there is talk of a shortlist of 5 other names. Two of whom are managers completely outside motorsport, which would somewhat recall what Benetton did with Flavio Briatore, while others are not closely linked to the world of Formula 1. After all, neither was a certain Jean Todt, even though he came to Ferrari after winning very important titles as director of Peugeot Sport.
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It is interesting to note that it is not at all clear whether these five names are in the running for that position or whether all or more than one will enter. The latter hypothesis would be more traumatic but in some respects it would confirm a planning and a project that had been decided for some time. Just as it is not yet clear, even to high-level sources, which team reorganization philosophy will be used. The first, more classic option would be to have the team work with a classic team principal, such as Frédéric Vasseur, who would inevitably produce clear changes, not immediately but in the medium term. The other option is the one that Benedetto Vigna is strongly pushing for, in favor of the removal of Mattia Binotto as he would like John Elkann to hand over direct responsibility for the Ferrari Racing Department to which all the factory bosses of each area would answer: power unit engineers, design and chassis, aerodynamics, sports management , communication and so on. This second configuration would not cancel the possible arrival of Fred Vasseur in the workforce, albeit not as a real team principal but part of Race Management to take care of track activities. A solution, the latter, perhaps less attractive for the external environment but more reassuring for those who currently work in the Ferrari Racing Department as it could bring less issued even in the medium term.
Charles Leclerc has nothing to do with Mattia Binotto’s resignation and last month’s leak. Nonetheless, according to formu1a.uno, two things can happen: either Mattia Binotto’s departure will free up new energy or it will bring to the surface dormant fears and uncertainties, well known by those who have moved to Maranello in the last decade. Because, even if it is now known that the relationship with John Elkann has been very problematic, once the Ferrari chairman assumed more powers after Camilleri’s exit in the autumn of last year, Mattia Binotto also acted as a link for an often absent management.
An absence, intentional or not, which certainly didn’t help the Italian-Swiss engineer in beating his fists on various fronts ‘external’ to the track, but no less important in an increasingly politicized Forma 1. Jean Todt’s help was precisely aimed at this. Regardless of the image and power of Mattia Binotto, a single person however good, cannot perform if he does not have the authority and above all the back covered by the senior management.
Only time will tell what Ferrari will gain from this cut and what it will lose, but it is clear that in the short term it will be necessary to clearly recognize an authoritative and stable structure at the helm of the Ferrari Racing Department, currently built in the image and character of Mattia Binotto. For one thing, those who have grown a lot in recent years would not be happy with the decision to bring back an ex like Simone Resta for the role of Technical Director.
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