After four years of untiring commitment and dedication, Maurizio Arrivabene has left Ferrari F1. His replacement Mattia Binotto has with immediate effect taken over as Scuderia Ferrari’s Team Principal.
A Ferrari statement read:
A Ferrari statement read: "The decision was taken together with the company's top management after lengthy discussions related to Maurizio's long-term personal interests as well as those of the team itself.
"Ferrari would like to thank Maurizio for his valuable contribution to the team's increasing competitiveness over the past few years, and wish him the best for his future endeavours. With immediate effect, Mattia Binotto will take over as Scuderia Ferrari's team principal. All technical areas will continue to report directly to Mattia."
So why the change and what can he bring to the table?
The main reason must surely be what Ferrari perceive as a disappointing 2018 campaign which saw Ferrari finish 84 points behind Mercedes in the F1 constructors’ championship and Sebastian Vettel as runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ Championship, add to that the fact that the Maranello-based team has not won a single title in more than ten years; Ferrari last won the drivers’ championship with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 and the constructors’ title in 2008, you can understand the frustration.
Mattia Binotto first joined Ferrari in 1995 as a test engine engineer, working on and off with the team until he was appointed as technical director in 2016, and as a former technical director it is this experience that Ferrari believe will guide them through the next season with success.
Another factor many have come to highlight is that during Arrivabene's stewardship communication or lack of within the media was often described as dismissive or combative. Regarded as a engineering leader Binotto's knowledge of the industry and his calming influence will hopefully help him engage with the media ensuring better reviews much like his counterparts Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Christian Horner of Red Bull.
Image credits: Ferrari
