Binotto leaving Ferrari F1 is a 'very difficult' call, according to Horner

Following Ferrari's failure in Formula 1, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes it would have been a "very difficult" decision for Mattia Binotto to leave the team.

Mattia Binotto in a file photo, Image credit: Twitter
By Mahaksh Chauhan | Dec 11, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Binotto proposed his resignation after Ferrari failed to capture the world championship this year, saying that senior management of the Italian automaker did not fully support him. Ferrari accepted his resignation and is in the process of hiring a replacement, with Alfa Romeo team manager Frederic Vasseur the front-runner. With Horner acknowledging the excellent job the Swiss-born Italian had done at Maranello, Binotto’s departure could affect the performance of one of Red Bull’s main competitors.

Did a good job

In response to a question on if the events at Ferrari surprised him from reporter at the FIA Gala Awards in Italy, Horner said: “I think, in all respect to Mattia, he did a really nice job in developing a highly competitive car and engine for Ferrari, definitely this year. They undoubtedly had successful operational periods. “He devoted a significant portion of his professional and personal lives to Ferrari, so I’m sure leaving the team after all that time must be very painful for him. So there is obviously a lot of emphasis on that team because it practically doubles as a national and OEM team. And considering that I’ve been at Red Bull and there is obviously a lot of strain on that job, I believe this will be the sixth team principal I will be seated across from.

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Key moment

In order to receive Red Bull’s first constructors’ championship trophy since 2013, Horner visited the FIA gala on Friday night. He singled out Max Verstappen’s victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as a pivotal point in getting Red Bull’s championship goals back on track after a challenging start to the year as he reflected on the competition with Ferrari this year. In the beginning of the season, “I think they [Ferrari] had a faster car than us,” he claimed. “However, we were able to maintain contact, which was crucial.

“Since we had a double DNF in the first race, we missed the championship by 21 races. But we were obligated to follow them. “And Imola with the sprint race and subsequent triumph was one of the key weekends for me. I believe it was a tremendous psychological boost for our team and possibly for Ferrari as well for us to win both of those races, finish 1-2, and defeat them at home. “Then, I believe, the speed came when we evolved the car, improved the car, and reduced a little bit of weight.”