Ferrari has refuted reports in the Italian media that Fred Vasseur of Alfa Romeo will take over for Mattia Binotto, the team's current Formula One team principal.
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Tuesday’s reports that Ferrari team manager Binotto is leaving the organisation were published in the Italian editions of the newspapers Gazzetta dello Sport and Motorsport.com. Binotto, who progressed through the ranks at Maranello, was named team principal in January 2019 after serving as the team’s head of engines and then chief technical officer and aiding in its turnaround. The new 2022 regulations required Ferrari to build its most competitive car in years, but a string of strategy blunders and reliability problems eliminated Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz from contention, forcing Ferrari to guard second place in the constructors’ championship against a resurgent Mercedes.
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Italian sources claim that because of Ferrari’s recent struggles, chairman John Elkann decided to replace Binotto as of January 1 and replace him with Fred Vasseur, Binotto’s counterpart at Alfa Romeo. Ferrari released a statement on social media refuting the removal of Binotto rumours, claiming they are “completely without substance.” Ferrari stated that these rumours about Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto’s status were completely unfounded in response to discussion in some media.
Vasseur had a close relationship with Ferrari because the Sauber-run team is an engine partner of Maranello and is supported by sister company Alfa Romeo. Vasseur also drove Leclerc for Alfa Romeo during the Monegasque’s 2017 debut season. But when Audi joins Sauber as an engine partner and stakeholder for 2026, that connection will be broken.
