Many names have been reported as a possible replacement for Mattia Binotto in recent weeks. Frédéric Vasseur has always been the favourite, also because of a pre-agreement signed at the end of last summer, while the first information relating to the budget cap scandal began to circulate among paddock insiders.
The first approaches instead date back to many weeks earlier, in June, with the French manager who proposed himself knowing that he was no longer in Sauber’s plans, once the purchase of the team by Audi was finalized. Relations then intensified from the Hungarian GP (end of July).
Ferrari – Vasseur: why the affair took longer than the French manager had hoped for
It was therefore no coincidence that, in Abu Dhabi, there were no denials by the French and by Alfa Romeo, with the team principal of the Swiss team who, when questioned by the French press, let slip a very direct sentence: “I won’t say anything about the situation, you’ll find out soon“.
In reality, the story has lengthened more than usual and than had been hoped for by the French manager himself as Mattia Binotto anticipated the times, resigning. Sources very close to the president John Elkann, once the name of the French manager emerged in the press, wanted to let him know that this could not have been a choice by Ferrari. While John Elkann tried to make last desperate attempts to convince more prominent personalities, including a former Mercedes, not to veer on what, in the meantime, had become plan B, Vigna was instead very happy with the arrival of Fred Vasseur, not a renowned name that could have allowed him to take over the Ferrari Racing Division more directly.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
Vassuer – Ferrari: the end of summer pre-contract agreement has been finalized
No surprise. John Elkann failed to convince any other (or high) profile manager and it is therefore no coincidence that, last week, sources close to the management reported to formu1a.uno that Mattia Binotto’s succession had already been defined for some time. Precisely from the end of last summer, from that pre-contract agreement undertaken with Fred Vassuer, according to F1 experts Giuliano Duchessa and Piergiuseppe Donadoni.
In the meantime, the French manager has terminated the contract, receiving the green light in advance from Hinwill (house of Sauber) to define the details of the new assignment with John Elkann, although officially Alfa Romeo still does not want to comment on what it still considers to be rumors.
Ultimately, the pre-agreement signed at the end of the summer now appears to have been finalized, even if there are no officially certain timings yet. Meanwhile, those who work in Maranello hope to receive communications before Christmas, so as not to have to further prolong this phase that we could define as hybrid, if not downright anomalous, considering that next week will be the last of Mattia Binotto‘s work in Maranello. At the FIA Gala last Friday, in addition to Charles Leclerc, the Sporting Director of the Ferrari was present, i.e. Laurent Mekies, a person who will not move from Maranello.
Fred Vasseur will then return to work with Charles Leclerc after four years. It is no coincidence that the Monegasque shared some kind words for him at the FIA gala where he was awarded the vice-champion trophy: “Fred has always been very direct, very honest. And that’s something I like about him. We’ll see if it’s him in the coming months.”
Fred Vasseur is a ‘corporate’ manager who enjoys the trust of Vigna, Elkann, and above all that of Carlos Tavares, CEO of the Stellantis group of which the Ferrari president John Elkann is a shareholder. He is now preparing to face the most important and legendary challenge for the career of any F1 manager: bringing the title back to Maranello. We will see with which men and with which role, given that the option with a more limited responsability, namely that of Race Director, still remains open.
Leave a Reply