'Binotto and Ferrari announce farewell within hours'

Ferrari finished in second place among constructors in 2022, and while that is progress compared to previous seasons, the team's performance has been criticised. In 2022, especially at the beginning of the season, the Italian team had a car with which to win. Strategic blunders and other mistakes often squandered those chances.

Binotto is done with Ferrari

That the team failed to capitalise on that good car is blamed on team boss Binotto and, according to La Gazzetta, he will therefore be sidelined at the end of 2022 and replaced by Frederic Vasseur. Ferrari denied this news ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but now Corriere della Sera also manages to report that Binotto is leaving.

However, the Italian medium states that it is not Ferrari saying goodbye to Binotto, but rather the other way around. Binotto reportedly told friends of his that he would find the criticism of his performance too tiring and therefore did not want to serve out his contract, which runs until 2023. In addition, the Italian would also feel a lack of support from Ferrari president John Elkann.

The rumours would be leaked mainly from the camp of Charles Leclerc, who would not speak to the team boss for months. Vasseur was therefore not a surprising name, as Leclerc had previously worked successfully with the Frenchman at Alfa Romeo. Corriere speaks of a matter of hours before Ferrari and Binotto make the news official.