Mattia Binotto recalls his 27 years with Ferrari and working with Michael Schumacher

Mattia Binotto recalls his 27 years with Ferrari and working with Michael Schumacher. Mattia Binotto recalls his 27 years with Ferrari.

Mattia Binotto’s career with Scuderia Ferrari started in 1995 as a member of the engine department in the test team and his progress led him to gradually climb the Formula 1 team’s organization chart, until he was promoted to the role of team principal in January 2019. But after four championships without titles and only seven Grand Prix victories, the Italian manager resigned last December and was replaced by Frederic Vasseur, who arrived from Alfa Romeo Sauber.

On Thursday 16 February, Mattia Binotto took part in the Panathlon convivial meeting at the Sporting Club Parma, retracing his experience in Maranello, starting from the recognition of the value of all factory workers: “From the outside, one does not have an exact perception of complex structural organization behind the single-seater. Ferrari employs 1,500 people, 100 travel, but the other 1,400 think about that car, regularly pouring energy into developing and improving a product that must be healthy, robust and reliable. They represent 95% of the organizational structure. And they are the ones that matter the most.”

But the description of Mattia Binotto’s period with the Prancing Horse leaves little room for doubt: “My years in Maranello were wonderful. When I arrived, there were 600 of us and the drivers were called Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger“. In the statements reported by the Gazzetta di Parma newspaper, the Italian engineer wanted to talk about the example given to the entire team by Michael Schumacher: “What can I say about about Michael. He was extraordinary driver: not only for what he has won, but for his charisma, his leadership, for that winning mentality that we have always tried to treasure, even in subsequent experiences” – the former Ferrari boss pointed out.

Mattia Binotto then wanted to recall a great story that shows Michael Schumacher’s devotion and professional attitude, which has always been the basis of his success: “We were used to drivers who, during the tests, showed up ten minutes before the green light. Michael did the first test day at Fiorano. Then we went to Estoril: the start was set for 9 AM. We arrived at 8.30 and Schumacher was already there: he made an eloquent gesture, touching his watch to underline how late we were. For him, we should have met at 8 and at 9 we had to be at maximum efficiency” – the ex-Ferrari team principal said.