Mattia Binotto leaving Ferrari. Or not. With just a few days ahead of the final round of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, rumors have increased regarding the fact that Mattia Binotto’s time in charge of Scuderia Ferrari will not continue in 2023, a season in which Frederic Vasseur should become the new team principal. The French manager would therefore arrive from Sauber with the approval of Carlos Tavares (CEO of Stellantis, a man who John Elkann fully trusts) and Charles Leclerc given that the Monegasque’s manager, Nicholas Todt, has collaborated for years past with Frederic Vasseur.
Through a tweet, however, Scuderia Ferrari defined these rumors as “totally without foundation”, effectively confirming Mattia Binotto’s position at the top of the Ferrari Formula 1 team.
‘Intrigues and factions for Mattia Binotto’s position’ headlines Italian daily newspaper Il Corriere della Sera, which writes: “We have arrived at the end of the world championship in Abu Dhabi, between regrets and internal settling of scores. There is an atmosphere of the end of a kingdom inside Ferrari. Mattia Binotto’s throne has been shaking for months, yesterday the Maranello team denied the immediate replacement with four lines in which neither messages of confidence nor words from the top management appear. A sign that reveals the weakness of the his position at Ferrari.”
‘Binotto kicked out? Embarrassment Ferrari’ the opening lines of Corriere dello Sport which underlines some aspects of what in any case will remain an unhappy moment in terms of communication: “There is some truth behind the rumor relating to the imminent removal of Mattia Binotto” writes the sports newspaper based in Rome – “a natural consequence of the distrust that John Elkann has towards Mattia Binotto. This distrust has had the effect of creating chaos in Maranello and the president will not be able to blame anyone but himself. It would have been Mattia Binotto himself who asked Elkann for the denial. Also in this case the president did not want to do it directly, but he authorized it and this forced him to come out into the open. Paradoxically, Mattia Binotto emerges from this situation in a temporarily strengthened position. In Abu Dhabi, contrary to plans, John Elkann and the managing director Benedetto Vigna will not be present”.
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‘Red mystery’ is instead the headline of La Stampa which opens the sports pages with the Mattia Binotto case: “The news that the team principal would leave Ferrari at the end of the year appeared more than likely. A replacement has also been identified: Frederic Vasseur, French, 54 years old, now head of Sauber branded Alfa Romeo and powered by Ferrari. In short, a (hypothetical) replacement in the family with the blessing of the Stellantis Group” – read the columns of the Italian newspaper – “the news survived a couple of hours. In a tweet, the Scuderia denies the rumors about its team principal. An unusual reaction, given that one of the rules in Maranello is not to comment on the rumours. But even such clear-cut and surgical communication has its contraindications. First of all, the denial turns into a confirmation. According to the tweet, Mattia Binotto’s management will continue at least until the debut of the 2023 season, between winter tests and the first Grands Prix. Is it the best choice? Ferrari yesterday had the opportunity to announce the separation and confirm a painful decision that seemed inevitable (also for this reason no one doubted the veracity of the news). If it changed his mind, in terms of image it would come out badly”.
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