The Italian Mattia Binotto, director of the Ferrari team in Formula 1, will leave his position on December 31, the Italian team announced on Tuesday, after days of speculation about the end of the relationship due to lack of confidence in him by the president of the company, John Elkann.
"Ferrari announces that it has accepted the resignation of Mattia Binotto, who will leave his position as team principal of the Ferrari team on December 31," an official statement read.
"With the regret that this entails, I have decided to end my collaboration with Ferrari. I am leaving a company that I love, of which I have been a part for 28 years, with the serenity that comes from the conviction that I have done everything possible to achieve the objectives set. ", Binotto assured in the note.
"I am leaving behind a united and growing team. A strong team, prepared, I am sure, to reach the highest goals, to which I wish the best for the future. I believe it is right to take this step at this time, no matter how difficult it may be. This decision has been for me," he added.
The relationship between Binotto and Ferrari was totally broken for days, but the announcement has been delayed because both parties were negotiating the clauses to put an end to their contractual union that ends by mutual agreement.
"I would like to thank Mattia for his many great contributions over the course of 28 years with Ferrari and, in particular, for leading the team back to a competitive position this past year. As a result, we are in a strong position to renew our challenge, especially for our incredible fans around the world, to win the ultimate prize in motorsport," said Benedetto Vigna, Ferrari CEO.
Rumors about Binotto's departure from the 'Prancing Horse' team increased at the end of the season that just ended with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (United Arab Emirates), when he declared that he was "too tired to continue" with his work "in critical conditions within the company," according to the media.
The name that sounds the most to replace Binotto, who arrived as an intern at Ferrari in 1995, is that of the Frenchman Frederic Vasseur, current team manager of Alfa Romeo.
