Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto has admitted Red Bull driver Max Verstappen does not represent a possible option for the Maranello team in the short to medium-term future. The Ferrari boss also discussed the actions surrounding Sebastian Vettel leaving the Italian side at the of the 2020 Formula 1 season.
Scuderia Ferrari confirmed Sebastian Vettel will not continue after last season, with Spanish driver Carlos Sainz chosen by Mattia Binotto to replace the four-time Formula 1 world champion. The Ferrari boss said that the curreny line-up of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz means Max Verstappen will not be joining the Maranello team in the near future:
“Honestly, I think that we’ve got the line-up of drivers today, which we are very happy with.” – the Ferrari boss confirmed. – “We have invested a lot on Charles and I think Charles is a fantastic talent and it’s our investment. And Carlos is doing very well. So certainly in the near future, that’s not a question. On the other side of things that Max is a fantastic driver. He’s very talented as well. He’s very fast, I think he is a good boy. So no doubt that Max is.. we esteem him. But as I said, certainly for the short term, medium term, we’ve got our lineup which is done.” – the Ferrari boss added.
After six years with Scuderia Ferrari, the Italian side decided to part ways with Sebastian Vettel, as Mattia Binotto confirmed that the on-track problems between Sebastian and Charles did not represent the main issue:
“No, no, no. What happened in ’19 has not been the reason. I think that when we had the lockdown start of last year, it was the time for us to decide,” Binotto said. And it was even important to decide very soon in the year for simply for full respect to ourselves and Sebastian to give him the opportunity to find another seat and, on the fact that today he is driving the Aston Martin, I’m very happy with that. I think it was lucky enough we decided very soon. So, for us, it was the right time, start of the season during the lockdown to decide and that has been the time where we really consider all the options and we made our decision.” – Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto concluded.
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