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“Shame to see Mattia Binotto go”: F1 expert calls for bigger changes at Ferrari as they look to part ways with team principal

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"Shame to see Mattia Binotto go": F1 expert calls for bigger changes at Ferrari as they look to part ways with team principal

Mattia Binotto became the team principal of Ferrari in 2019 after spending the previous two years as Chief Technical Officer for them. He has been involved with the Maranello-based outfit since 1995 and was part of some of the most dominant periods in F1 history.

He took charge of Ferrari as team principal when the team needed a major rebuild. They had to endure a very difficult 2020 campaign where they finished sixth, but the progress has been undeniable since then. In 2022, they were expected to fight for the World Championship once again, and that’s what the start of the season set fans up for.

Ferrari had the fastest car in the early stages of 2022, but their performance fell off as the year progressed. On top of that, they showed a lot of cracks in the reliability department, which added to the misery from their strategic blunders.

Earlier this week, reports suggested that the Ferrari management wasn’t happy with Binotto’s leadership. Rumors also pointed towards Binotto considering resigning from his position as team principal.

Also read: Sebastian Vettel snubs Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton as most talented F1 driver

F1 expert feels sacking Mattia Binotto is not going to solve Ferrari’s problems

In a Twitter post, former F1 driver and current Sky Sports analyst Karun Chandhok shared his thoughts on Binotto leaving Ferrari. According to the 38-year-old, Binotto is still the right man to drive the prancing horses forward.

“Will be a shame to see Mattia Binotto go,” he said. “He tried to create a no-fear, no-blame culture. And as a part of that, he didn’t make the changes he should have.”

Chandhok then went on to suggest that changing the team principal won’t solve Ferrari’s problems. He called for wider structural changes that would help them more in the long run.

Also read: “He can grow with us but can’t make us grow”: Why Guenther Steiner was pushed to sack Mick Schumacher from Haas

Binotto should be shifted into technical role, says Chandhok

Binotto is one of the most experienced engineers in F1 today. He has been with Ferrari since 1995 and has helped them design various Championship winning cars. This is why Chandhok feels that he should not be let go of. Instead, Binotto could use his experience and intelligence to help the Scuderia build a fast and reliable car.

“I wonder if Mattia needs to be shuffled sideways into a technical leadership role,” he added. “Let’s not forget they have designed and produced a very fast car this year. Creating a better operational and development team in parallel with the concept and design is key.”

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Somin Bhattacharjee is an F1 editor at The SportsRush and has written more than 2000 articles. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and considers sports to be a part of his life. Somin has been a fan of Scuderia Ferrari since 2010 and his favorite driver is none another than the legendary Fernando Alonso. Other than longing for a Ferrari Championship win once again, Somin spends his free time playing football and basketball.

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