Binotto steps back from technical role
Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto has confirmed that he no longer holds the role of the Technical Director at the Scuderia with the responsibilities shared among multiple people.
Scuderia Ferrari has endured a miserable start to the season, slipping down the pecking order behind Mercedes and Red Bull and fighting with mid-field outfits Renault, McLaren and Racing Points. Following the Styrian Grand Prix, Ferrari announced key changes to its Formula One organisation.
In an interview with Channel 4, Binotto has confirmed that he no longer holds the role of the Technical Director. He said: “I am able, now that we’ve got people in the right role, having responsibilities and able to do the right job, to not do any more of the technical director job.
“There are other people doing it. They’ve got clear objectives. I think they are certainly as well enthusiastic and focusing on the objectives they need to achieve. On my side there are a lot of things I need to do. Certainly keeping an eye and keeping them in the right position to deliver," he explained.
Binotto has been with Ferrari since 1995 when he joined the Scuderia’s engine department as an engineer. The 50-year-old was part of Ferrari’s dream team that won five successive Drivers’ and six consecutive Constructors’ Championships.
In 2013, he became head of the engine department before taking on the role of the Technical Director following James Allison’s departure in 2016. The Lausanne-born engineer was promoted to team principal at the beginning of the 2019, replacing Maurizio Arrivabene.
Following Ferrari’s dismal start to the season, Binotto’s role at the top of the team has been under threat with rumours circling around that he may be ousted and replaced by Antonello Coletta. However, the Swiss-Italian has now confirmed that he still enjoys the trust of Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri.
„It’s important having the support of the board members, of our chairman, our CEO. I think we are sharing the same vision, the same objectives. We know that we need some patience. There are no silver bullets, so we are just trying to reinforce the team,” he added.
