A few days have now passed since the official announcement of the new Ferrari team principal for the 2023 Formula 1 season, yet the world of F1 still seems to revolve largely around the internal events of the Prancing Horse team. The departure of Mattia Binotto, who handed in his resignation and was replaced by the Maranello top management with former Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur, sparked mixed reactions among the fans.
There were those who appreciated the discontinuity that comes with this choice, contesting Mattia Binotto’s inability shown in the last few years to compete in the long term with Red Bull for winning the world titles, especially during the last season;
However, many Ferrari fans and part of the media expressed doubts for this decision, wondering if yet another change at the top of the Formula 1 Racing Division does in fact represent the right move for taking those missing step towards the World Championship.
Such doubts have now also been expressed by a figure that in theory is one of Scuderia Ferrari’s main rivals. We are talking about Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s historic consultant and Christian Horner’s right-hand man in the operational management of the Formula 1 team. The Austrian manager, often outspoken in his analyzes but a profound connoisseur of motorsport and F1, has in fact taken the defense of Mattia Binotto. While admitting that Ferrari was often lacking from a strategic point of view during the season that has just ended, Marko underlined the professional qualities of the now former red team principal, judging the decision made by the Maranello management as a mistake by agreeing to let him leave.
“In the case of Ferrari, I don’t quite understand the change” – commented Helmut Marko during a long interview with the German site Auto Motor und Sport – “I consider Mattia Binotto an excellent technician and manager. He was simply overwhelmed by his task. But it would have been enough to provide him with a sporting director who supported him on the track and with the strategy. The arrival of a new man, who has many other positions, I see as a weakening for Ferrari “. Helmut Marko’s reference is to the many commitments of Frederic Vasseur, who, however, at the time of taking office in Ferrari will completely focus on his activities in Maranello. However, the new Ferrari boss has nonetheless taken on a double role, having both the duties of team principal and those of general manager.
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Who do you fear more next year?”
Helmut Marko: “Definitely Mercedes. They are more stable. And they have Hamilton. Even though it didn’t go well for him this year, his lap times showed that he is a top man. They are simply a stronger package than Ferrari.”
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